For the musical stalwarts who make up the soul jazz outfit Junglehammer, its latest collaboration makes for a stylish reunion of what has become an extended underground community of some of Australia's finest talents.

The brainchild of producer/keyboardist James Guiney and Lindsay Page, Junglehammer has grown into a 14 member family of musicians who are set to release a new collection of infectious grooves titled Romeo Tree.

Key to the band's growing presence on the Sydney music scene is its front man - the hugely successful writer and performer iOTA – who will showcase the new album at a one-off show at The Studio, Sydney Opera House on May 14.

Fresh after his performance at the critically acclaimed 2010 Sydney Festival Spiegeltent show, Smoke and Mirrors, and a win for Best Actor at the prestigious Helpmann Awards for his role in Hedwig and the Angry  Inch, iOTA has again leant his rich voice and poetic talents to the group, co-writing its third release with Guiney and Page

For iOTA, the main theme of album is love, as implied its title.

"I had all these love songs and I thought 'where have these been inspired from?' I guess it was from a little story in my head about an imaginary tree with all these love hearts over it and that would be a tree where Romeo was to pluck a heart and hopefully fall in love," iOTA says.

"I think it's about all kinds of love: love of person or love of a situation, or friends. It wasn't a conscious decision to make this album about love but there was just this constant theme coming through."

Romeo Tree follows the successful Strange Fascination album released 18 months ago by the underground group which features a four piece horn section led by Australian saxophone legend Jason Morphett.

"This album is a little less traditional than the one before. The last one was more traditionally jazz," iOTA says.

From the wildly seductive opening track "Out of the Fire", Romeo Tree is a musical tapestry, blending the genres of James Brown, Blood Sweat and Tears with threads of the "Cotton Club" from the 1920s.

"iOTA brings the lyrics, vocals and the artwork on this album. Together we work the beautiful melodies Guiney says.  "I've worked with a lot of people and iOTA is exceptional."

Guiney,  formed Junglehammer six years ago with fellow musician Lindsay Page.   

"Everybody in this band is like my best friend," says Guiney. "We've known each other for 20 years and we've all worked together in different bands.  I called to ask if they had the time for “another session” and because it's a close knit circle of musicians who get together and do Junglehammer, they didn’t hesitate”

The 14 piece ensemble is powered by Joe Accaria and Dave Marsalis on drums, Ben Cripps and Hal Tupea on bass, as well as Marty Hailey and Hugh Coffey on guitar.   Underpinning its seductive sound is the horn section.

Romeo Tree was recorded at the Sydney Opera House by Grammy award winning engineers, Tony David Cray and Jason Blackwell. The final mixes  were finessed by Micaja Ryan, who has worked with Bob Dylan,  Steven James, Bob Scott, David Hemming and Tony David Cray.

Junglehammer will present its latest release at a one night session at the Opera House along with the talents of jazz diva Lily Dior who will accompany the group in this special performance.