Bassist Billy Mohler is a key figure between the musical underground and mainstream of Los Angeles. His approach to band-leading encourages sonically-inventive efforts that highlight the players’ raw chemistry as well as his own rough-hewn, insistently rhythmic and compelling compositions. Following his albums Ultraviolet, Focus en Anatomy, he recently released the single Aki, a prime example of his captivating solo exercises.
Billy Mohler has now assembled a quartet which blends European, New York and Los Angeles sensibilities, through some of the most exciting players from those scenes: Hermon Mehari on trumpet, Francesco Bigoni on saxophones and clarinet, and one of Mohler’s most trusted long-time collaborators, drummer Nate Wood of Kneebody. Mohler attended the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, studying with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. But he also worked with pop and rock greats such as Lady Gaga, Sia and Smashing Pumpkins.
‘Mohler’s instincts and experience in rock and pop translate well to writing original jazz music that, despite the seriousness and sincerity of the craft, manages to remain engaging and–yes–fun’ (Downbeat).
Hermon Mehari trumpet, Francesco Bigoni saxophone/clarinet, Billy Mohler bass, Nate Wood drums