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The story behind "Boozing Wizards - Searching for the stone of funk" (for those of you who care, who really, really care...)

In medieval times there was bunch of alchemists, including Merlin, running after a magic formula which would turn any plain, old metal in to gold. Their quest was to find the Stone of Wisdom. It was a fantastic idea but it didn't quite work out - what a shame!

My personal search for the Stone of Funk started in the USA when I developed a real addiction for funk music (very bad for my reputation in the Country & Western scene). 

The "Boozing Wizards" idea came about after having played for many years with a happening Blues/Funk band called "The Booze Family" (even though I had never even sniffed a drop of alcohol back then). I find it quite amusing imagining the Wizards getting frustrated, having one drink after the other and getting really pissed whilst desperately searching for the magic formula (as you can hear at the beginning of track 8).
ROACHMOTEL: In the States they sell this thing called "Roachmotel - they check in but they never check out" and trust me - it has no effect whatsoever except giving off a disgusting smell! Watching my "roommates" running around on the kitchen floor I came up with the idea for this really bubbly rhythm arrangement. The tune is very much in the JB tradition despite the several key changes.
HYPE HAT: Hard to hide my Rocco/Jaco influences on that one. I actually gave Rocco this recording in 1998 - I'm sure he loves it! The title was inspired by Jim Jarmusch's film, "Night on Earth". 
I loved the cab scene in NY City with Armin Mueller-Stahl and Jo Jo, the clown, especially their in-depth conversation about their furry hats!

KING LOUIS: who doesn't love the Junglebook's King Louis, cleverly using his arms like a skipping rope? This tune based on rhythm changes plays around with some classic Big Band horn clichés. I liked the idea of a lot of horns and a drums/ bass/organ trio.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE: when I heard Donny Hathaway sing this song I instantly wanted to write an arrangement for this tune. I was quite fortunate to meet vocalist Mike Fana - who had just turned 17 and really converted me into a dedicated Donny Hathaway fan. I had a hard time with the bassline and you can hear Danny Wilson's (Jeff Lorber's bassist) influence on my bass patterns. I still get a kick out of the key change, a tritone apart from the starting key and, no doubt, I also must have listened a lot to Marvin Gaye's "What's going on" and James Jamerson back then.

PEDRO A L'HEURE - Peter on time: who doesn't know a guy who just cannot be on time? And who doesn't know a guy who can come up with the most outrageously strange excuse and get away with it? Don't we love them? This Fusion sounding tune is dedicated to all who know what I'm talking about. Excellent first-take solo of Junauro Landgrebe - a very talented guitarist from San Francisco. This is also one of the very few occasions you will hear me use my thumb on a green (!) Sadowsky 5 string.
TANT PIS POUR TOI! - Too bad for you!: this tune came to my head after having listened to saxophonist Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus" and Wayne Shorter's "Speak no Evil". To add the drum loop in the solo section was a real pain, particularly as we did that AFTER we recorded the rhythm section! I thought of the title whilst rehearsing with a French Big Band in Paris and had absolutely no clue how to follow the (French) instructions of the MD...
SHUFFLE DEMON: this seems to be a lot of people's favorite track. It is also the only track in which I allow myself a couple of bars to do a little "bass thang" with 3 basses and wah-wah pedal. Live, this is a great tune to let rip! Excellent solos of Robert Friedl and Dave Limina.

BOOZING WIZARDS: This tongue-in-cheek tune has a slightly tricky metric modulation and was inspired by the Lounge Lizards, the band around the saxophonist/actor John Lurie. The solo section hints on the New Orleans school of Funk, in particular the Meters and Dr. John. Hopefully the "Boozing Wizards" image comes through in the music! 
L. PARTY (unreleased Bonus track): This is the RB FUNKESTRA featuring Taka Boom. Check out this remake of Taka's footstomping Funk workout with its fantastic vocals and cool trumpetsolo of Duncan Mackay.