Yamirah´s Solar Explorers - I’m So Tired of These Wars (Fat Banshee) [Jazz]

Yamirah´s Solar Explorers are a refreshingly males in the minority Berlin jazz trio who flit between the classic jazz sounds of the twentieth century, giving things a modern twist, easier breezier smoother vibes and deep dirty grooves - there's something for everyone.

The trio are led by Yamirah Gercke on guitar. Born in America and inspired by Wes Montgomery this nomadic soul has found her way to Berlin's vibrant music scene where she is a keen collaborator and has even set up a record label for her own, and like minded soul's music. Sacha Hladiy was born in Paris, and received part of his training at the Bill Evans (all the right names keep cropping up) Academy, and takes care of keys for the trio. The final piece of the puzzle is rhythm queen Ria Rother, another Berlin import who hails originally from the Mecklenburg Lake District but who is now making all sorts of moves in the city's jazz scene.

The trio are freshly formed, and only started releasing music this year, although there's been some obvious thought gone into the project. "I'm So Tired of These Wars" is their fourth single in 2025, and although I'm not sure, I'm guessing there might be an album coming in 2026. It's also their deepest cut yet, and considering the song title and sentiment - something I'm sure we can all get behind, rightly so.

The ghosts of the twentieth century were obviously looking down approvingly in the studio during the recordings of this one, it's got that sort of throwback feel. Gercke gets the ball rolling with an easy, contemplative guitar intro that belies the track's serious nature, but it's not long before Rother's trembling hi-hats change the mood from contemplation to suspense and usher in the gods of war before she settles into a sparse, grinding kick drum that anchors the track. The girls then hand it over to Hladiy to beseech the world's elected and authoritarian leaders to cut the crap, drop the weapons and focus on construction rather than destruction, and beseech he does. His organ playing goes deep into the matter, the entreaty comes straight from the heart, the expression so impassioned and eloquent the girls are content to sit back and elevate, rather than distract from the message. If that wasn't enough whispered, Sun Ra reminiscent, voices drift in at the end like ghosts from the world's battlefields to add spectral weight to the message.

But don't stop there, check out the breezy, guitar led summer vibes of, "Open Sky", the propulsive, hard grooving transcendence of "Ode To Jürgen" and the low gravity bump of, "Flying", and if you're around Germany's capital make sure you check them live, I'm sure they'll rock a show.

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Playlist Companion

Find mirah´s Solar Explorers in the Slow Jazz Playlist.