Orlando’s current young jazz scene is a high-minded generation with serious artists making serious art. It is, unquestionably, to our betterment. But you don’t dance with your brain.
Golden Flower — the quintet of Caitlin Pequignot (violin), Shawn Villanueva (trumpet, flugelhorn), Patrick Moreno (Rhodes, piano), Brandon Kyle Miller (upright bass, electric bass) and Cameron Gholami (drums, percussion) — are one of Orlando’s more accessible young jazz acts. They pack heavy cred in their affiliations with groups like Answers, Sooza Brass Band, Alterity Chamber Orchestra, Bebop Bounty Big Band and JK & the Contraband. But in Golden Flower, they keep it cool. They’ve got all the skills. They just aren’t nerds about it.
After holding down a residency at The Nook since 2022, Golden Flower have at last bottled their vim in a new debut studio album. Titled Are You Even Awake?, it’s 11 tracks of jazz that’s consciously open in both mind and heart. Stylistically, Golden Flower’s progressive sound is unboxed by jazz orthodoxy. It’s modern jazz recontextualized with unconventional cornerstones like nontraditional instrumentation (violin, effects) and alternative influences (prog, electronic, world).
While their playing has technical rigor, Golden Flower’s soul flits with an airborne spirit, unburdened by any leaden allegiance to gravitas. They’re legit players who aren’t afraid to be playful. The street-smart “Distant Glow” struts with funk and groove. “Piecemeal” features a whimsical dance between string and horn. And the effects woven throughout give the album occasional psych expansion.
With this album, Golden Flower claim their niche with a sense of vivacity and adventure. Sonic novelty and free spirit converge to push boundaries without academic baggage. Orlando abounds in head music right now, but if you want jazz for the soul, go with Golden Flower.
Are You Even Awake? now streams everywhere. This weekend, you can catch Golden Flower live at their monthly Milk District residency.
8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, The Nook on Robinson, free.
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This article appears in Aug. 5-11, 2026.
