[Cover photo credit to Whitney Pelfrey]

After nearly two years, Okonski has returned with Entrance Music, an album where the group is “celebrating the spontaneous and meditative.” Album opener “October” is out now. The album is out February 28th, 2025 via Colemine Records.

After 2023’s debut Magnolia, pianist and leader Steve Okonski has brought together long-time musical collaborators, including Durand Jones and the Indications bandmate Aaron Frazer on drums, and bassist Michael Isvara “Ish” Montgomery.

Recorded over a five-day session, Entrance Music was one of the first albums committed to tape at Portage Lounge, Terry Cole’s studio in Loveland, OH.

Okonski says:

It was a new setup, but with Terry behind the dials it was very familiar. I can’t emphasize enough how much Terry feels like a fourth member [of the band] because of the space he’s curating, the energy he is bringing, and the production ideas.

Okonski says that whereas much of their debut album resonates with his time in New York, Entrance Music…

…feels a little less ‘on the streets at 2 A.M.’ and a little more nature-based…a little more ethereal. It’s definitely age, environment, and family — all of that does come through in the music.