The Jazz June

The Jazz June
Origin	Kutztown, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Emo, indie rock, alternative rock
Years active	1996–2003 2014–present
Labels	Topshelf Workshop Initial
Members	Andrew Low Bryan Gassler Daniel O'Neill Justin Max
Past members	Adam Gerhart Nathaniel Duncan Tim Holland

The Jazz June is an American emo band from Kutztown, Pennsylvania. During their initial run during the 1990s and 2000s, Jazz June played shows with such underground bands as Built to Spill, Hot Rod Circuit, and Mineral. ^[1] In 2016, Rolling Stone placed the band's album The Medicine at number 33 on its list of the 40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time. ^[2]

History

The Jazz June was formed in 1996 by students attending Kutztown University, ^[3] with the intent of making "music with the same aggression as hardcore but with a more experimental spin on it." ^[4] The band's name is derived from a passage in the Gwendolyn Brooks poem "We Real Cool."

The group recorded its first full-length album They Love Those Who Make the Music in 1997. The album, as well as The Boom, the Motion, and the Music EP were recorded through Canadian record label Workshop Records. ^[5] In 1998, the band signed with Initial Records.

Following a tour with Hot Rod Circuit, Jazz June spent four days recording their following full-length, 2000's The Medicine, at Inner Ear Studios with producer J. Robbins. ^{[4] [6]} In 2002, Jazz June released their fourth studio album Better Off Without Air. The album saw the band break with their previous sound and incorporate more influences from bands on independent labels Dischord Records and Thrill Jockey. ^[4]

Jazz June disbanded in 2003. However, the band reunited for benefit shows in 2006 to raise money for their former roadie, who had brain cancer. ^[7] The band released an outtakes-and-rarities compilation the following year. ^[8] In 2014, the group reformed and recorded their fifth studio album After the Earthquake with producer Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It.. ^{[1] [9]}

Members

• Andrew Low – vocals, guitar
• Bryan Gassler – guitar
• Daniel O'Neill – bass
• Justin Max – drums
• Adam Gerhart
• Nathaniel Duncan
• Tim Holland – guitar, trumpet, keyboards

Discography

• They Love Those Who Make The Music (Workshop Records, 1997)
• The Boom, the Motion, and the Music EP (Workshop Records, 1998)
• Breakdance Suburbia (Initial Records, 1998)
• The Medicine (Initial Records, 2000)
• Better Off Without Air (Initial Records, 2002)
• The Scars to Prove It compilation (Universal Warning, 2007)
• After the Earthquake (Topshelf Records, 2014)

References

1. Karan, Tim (November 12, 2014). "The Jazz June Frontman Andrew Low On the Band's First Album In 12 Years". Diffuser . Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
2. Bayer, Jonah; Burgess, Aaron; Exposito, Suzy; Galil, Leor; Montgomery, James; Spanos, Brittany (March 1, 2016). "40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone . Retrieved September 8, 2018.
3. The Jazz June biography at Allmusic
4. Blest, Paul (March 14, 2014). "The Possibilities Are Endless: An Oral History of the Jazz June". Vice . Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
5. Julien, Alexandre (March 22, 2011). "Workshop Records Interview". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
6. Morgan, Adam (October 22, 2014). "Interview: Andrew Low of the Jazz June". Surviving the Golden Age. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
7. "The Jazz June". Scene Point Blank. 2006. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
8. Review of The Scars to Prove It, PopMatters, January 21, 2008.
9. Anderl, Timothy (September 16, 2014). "From The Horse's Mouth: Andrew Low (The Jazz June) on After The Earthquake". Ghettoblaster Magazine. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.