There’s a new sound where the sax is “phat” and the color is Mojo Green.
Reno’s funky seven-piece band Mojo Green celebrates the release of its album “Soul Phatasaxtion” with a hometown performance Saturday at Cargo in the Whitney Peak Hotel.
“Right away they (Cargo) were happy to accommodate us,” said guitarist Tim Bain, who started the band in 2009. “We are honored to put it on at one of the best venues in Reno, if not the best.”
“Soul Phatasaxtion” is a follow-up to 2013’s acclaimed “Funk In Public.” While the earlier album includes several instrumentals, each song of the nine originals on the new record features singer Jenes Carter.
“It shows our growth as a band,” Bain said.
Like the previous record, “Soul Phatasaxtion” has a live flavor. The drums, bass and guitar were recorded live, with the horns and vocals added. This time, the record was crafted at Tom Gordon’s Imirage Sound Lab in Sparks.
“It was a great learning and growing experience recording with him,” Bain said. “For me, it was little nuances of being slightly ahead or slightly behind the beat, and being aware of time and space.”
The horn section players are Trevor Hollingsworth, Monte Adams and Kevin Thomas. Frank “Fletch” Fletcher is the drummer. Kevin Rice, who plays bass on the album, left to band after his child was born. The new bassist is Dante Orlando, formerly with Jelly Bread.
Josh Clark was the cover artist for both of the Mojo Green albums. He drew urban scenes in the vein of Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew.”
Mojo Green expanded its touring schedule after Bain delegated booking to an agency. The band’s representative also is the agent for Lyrics Born and Afrolicious.
“These guys have the connections,” Bain said. “That’s why we’ve been to Oregon now, Boise and San Diego, some of these venues I wasn’t able to get the response.
“We are definitely committed to getting this band out there and hitting the road more and stretching out. We’re getting to be known as the premiere West Coast funk band so we are trying to live up to that moniker.”
- Mojo Green
“Soul Phatasaxtion” release performance
Opener: DJ Chango
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19. Doors open at 7.
Where: Cargo in the Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., Reno
Tickets: $16.50 available online: www.cargoreno.com or at the door - Here’s an interview with Tim Bain and Frank “Fletch” Fletcher from 2014 at Lake Tahoe:
