Mondo Jumbo, by Bill King

Mondo Jumbo

by Bill King

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Tracker Brilliant mix of tracks from funky to smooth and back again.
Favourite: Too good to choose just one !

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1.	Samba Babalu 03:58	info	buy track
2.	Ibrahim's Well 03:13	info	buy track
3.	The Calling 04:10	info	buy track
4.	Hey Bootsy? 03:51	info	buy track
5.	Savana Crossing 04:17	info	buy track
6.	Brother Levon 03:24	info	buy track
7.	Blue Dog Bounce 05:08	info	buy track
8.	Miles to Go 04:10	info	buy track
9.	Mondo Jumbo 04:02	info	buy track
10.	Have Mercy Joe! 04:57	info	buy track
11.	Soul Street 03:06	info	buy track
12.	Shadowland 05:18	info	buy track

about

When the pandemic forced most of us indoors the projects began lining up. From March through August I was able to complete a memoir, Coming Through the ‘60s an American Rock & Road Story and begin to lay the foundation for new music. When not locked to a computer keyboard the other 88 keys roared. The J&B Kings were knocking out tracks – that’s Dubmatix and yours truly while Dub was working on his own project – Bombastic. It is amazing what gets done when “time is on your side.” With the J&B Kings there came an overflow of new material - some more suited to my personal take on soul and funk. Jesse said, “Get going and get it down.” Here we are near mid-November and what was meant to be two singles or maybe an EP is now a full-blown album of twelve tracks, Mondo Jumbo.

The deeper I got into the groove the more I began to think about the soulful players who most influence me and whose presence seems to be all around. Mondo Jumbo speaks wholeheartedly of those magnificent performers who have shaped my groove and keyboard prowess – Joe Zawinul, Bootsy Collins, Abdullah Ibrahim, Miles Davis, Levon Helms, Rasheed Roland Kirk, Fela Kuti, Roy Ayers, Leon Russell, and Ramsey Lewis. Since my teens, I have been mesmerized by the beat – that relentless pulse. Pop tunes have their place but a “down to the bone” popping chill, rocks my house.

Rhythm rules throughout Mondo Jumbo before dissolving into the finale, “Shadowland.” I composed the solo piano piece in a moment of solitude – just me, piano and a glass of fine wine. I keep coming back to this composition to reflect, pause and think about the many faces and lives that have passed through my life cycle and speculate where they now reside. “Shadowland” is that illusory space I imagine the dance continues into the afterlife where loved ones patiently wait for our return.

credits

released November 11, 2020

I can not express in words my affection and appreciation for the players who said yes to this project. Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne is family. If I could, I would adopt these beautiful Cuban women as my eternal soul sisters. Jesse Dubmatix King – is King. Jesse fashioned several loops with himself playing drums live, bass and guitar and tossed over to “pops,” and said, “Give it to me when you are done. I’ll master.” From there, it’s been a party. Trumpeter Alexis Baro copped that Miles Davis ballad vibe and unleashed a stunning read of “Miles to Go.” Bill McBirnie bought into my love for multi-instrumentalist Rasheed Roland Kirk and blew the roof off with flute in hand on “The Calling.” Saxophonist Alison Young and trumpeter Rebecca Hennessey copped the groove on – “Hey Bootsy?” and “Have Mercy Joe!” – and guitarist Neil Chapman played phone tagged me as we found that sweet spot between growling guitar, acoustic piano on “Blue Dog Bounce,” “Mondo Jumbo” and “Samba Babalu.” Mondo Jumbo is a summation of all my soulful musical experiences.

Compositions Bill King (Co-partners Dubmatix/OKAN/Neil Chapman/Bill McBirnie)
Painting by Kristine King and graphic design Jesse King

1. Samba Babalu
2. Ibrahim’s Well
3. The Calling
4. Hey Bootsy?
5. Savana Crossing
6. Blue Dog Bounce
7. Brother Levon
8. Miles to Go
9. Mondo Jumbo
10. Have Mercy Joe!
11. Soul Street
12. Shadowland
Bill King – Producer/Recording & Mix/Keyboards/Compositions
Jesse “Dubmatix” King – Drums/Bass/Mix/Mastering - #3 #4, #5, #7, #8, #9, # 10, #11
Bill McBirnie – Flute #3
Elizabeth Rodriguez -violin #5 #9
Magdelys Savigne - percussion #5 #9 #10
Alison Young – Alto and Tenor sax #4 #11
Rebecca Hennessey – Trumpet #4 #11
Alexis Baro – Trumpet #9
Neil Chapman – Guitar - #1, #5, #6
Recorded at The Station House. Mastered at Renegade Studios

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about

Bill King Piano Toronto, Ontario

Indiana born, Toronto-based musician and producer.

Spanning a career that has seen Bill study with the legendary Oscar Peterson, become the musical director for Janis Joplin, tour with Martha Reeves, The Pointer Sisters and more - his output delves into rhythm, blues, soul, jazz and more ... more