Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-05-27
Photo: Courtesy of Natalie Brooke
Baltimore keyboardist, composer, and bandleader Natalie Brooke unveils The Collective She - Live at Orion, a new five-song, 45-minute live album that captures her band in its rawest and most expansive form.
Recorded live at Orion, the band’s rehearsal space, The Collective She - Live at Orion presents Brooke’s music not as polished studio cuts, but as stretched-out, improv-heavy performances built around the group’s instinctive chemistry, groove-forward interplay, and fearless improvisational spirit.
“The band and I set out to make a record in our rehearsal space that distinctly captured our live sound,” says Brooke. “These are our songs not as studio cuts, but as the jammed-out versions.”
The album features both previously released material and live catalog staples, offering a snapshot of Brooke’s live show at full force.
“It’s five songs, 45 minutes, and it’s a real good time,” Brooke adds. “I love the way this album sounds. I love the way it feels like highway and road trip music, especially for people who like jams. It’s the kind of music I put on when I’ve got hours to kill driving in the van and I want the time to fly. It’s live and alive.”
The Collective She - Live at Orion is led by the single “Idnfckno,” a nearly 14-minute live-tracked jazz-funk burner driven by clavinet heat, pocket-heavy bass, sharp guitar interplay, and full-band improvisation. Expansive without wandering and virtuosic without showing off, the track captures Brooke and her band taking the groove apart in real time and landing every turn.
The record arrives as Brooke continues to build on a breakout stretch that has established her as one of the most exciting new voices in modern jazz-funk, fusion, and improvisational music. Her critically acclaimed studio project Measured in Moments was named one of the Top 10 Albums of 2025 by The Baltimore Banner, while her live shows have leaned further into extended grooves, evolving arrangements, and spontaneous musical dialogue.
Tonight, Brooke begins a major run of shows supporting UK funk phenomenon High Fade, with dates in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Bridgeport, Brooklyn, and Asbury Park. This summer, Brooke will continue across the country with shows throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Midwest, along with a return to Colorado for appearances at Rhythms on the Rio and Magic Beans’ annual Beanstalk festival.
For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit Natalie’s official website.
NATALIE BROOKE
The Collective She - Live at Orion
Release Date: May 27, 2026
Tracklist
Noodles 2.0 Intro
Noodles 2.0
Testing Service
Idnfckno
Doom Mofo
Credits
Natalie Brooke - keys
Luke Walker - guitar
Jacob Nadeau - bass, mix and master
Nathan Shulkin - drums
Haiden Ferrell - album art
