Tristen Harris invites Lloyd Swanton from Australian jazz trio The Necks to share his Formative Five and discuss some of his biggest musical inspirations.

The Necks are one of Australia’s most celebrated jazz groups so it is no surprise to see heavyweights like Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane and Miles Davis represented. As The Necks’ double bassist, Lloyd would be amiss not to mention his deep respect for James Brown's music, and in particular the grooves he finds inspiring in these songs, whilst the more experimental and avant-garde elements of The Necks’ sound are discussed through Lloyd’s admiration for Steve Reich.

The Necks will be returning to these shores for a slew of live shows in early 2026. They play Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday 29 January.