JIM MULLEN - Bumpin' Along With Wes
In a long and distinguished career that has spanned a stint with the Average White Band, the hugely popular and successful Morrisey-Mullen Band with tenor saxophonist Dick Morrisey, and his own longstanding Organ Trio, Jim Mullen has never been one to stand still. Despite a serious illness in 2017 the Glasgow born guitarist continues to play in his own distinctive Wes Montgomery influenced style. It was therefore inevitable that somewhere along the line, that he would record his own tribute to his idol, Bumpin': Celebrating Wes Montgomery.
"Over the years I've been asked many times to do tributes to Wes Montgomery, not least because I'm a fan and we both use our thumb instead of a plectrum, but I always resisted because no one - not even George Benson - can do what Wes did. " explains Jim, "I remember the shock waves when Wes arrived on the scene. His intense soulful and bluesy lines, and an irresistible swing propelled him to the top almost instantly."
But when Claire Martin called and said she wanted to do a CD of Wes tunes with lyrics I became interested. So we went into the studio with Claire's fine Danish trio and then heard that the attorney who deals with the Wes estate refused permission to use many of the lyrics. This was disappointing and it says a lot for Claire's determination that we still managed to complete the Bumpin' album. I've known Claire for over 30 years and played on her debut CD The Waiting Game, the title track an original by Claire. We've worked together many times over the years and I've witnessed her develop into a major song stylist."
With such credentials, and the wonderful album dedicated to Wes that Jim and Claire have produced together, it can only be assumed that the guitarist enjoys playing with singers. A fact that is confirmed as Jim advises that "I also play in the group of my wife vocalist Zoe Francis. Her new album, Blue Town with Hammond organist Ross Stanley, is a set of beautiful bittersweet songs. Zoe is expert at finding lesser known songs that deserve to be heard. This is the third recording that Zoe and I have worked on. She has a unique and haunting way with a lyric and her cool and classy style invites fresh interpretations. I have always loved working with singers having long admired Helen Merrill with Jim Hall and Frank Sinatra with Al Viola. It's where the guitarist gets to be the 'pianist' in the band."
If this was not enough to keep him busy, the guitarist is also quick to remind us of the other projects he is currently involved with. "My organ trio with Mike Gorman and Tristan Mailliot has been quiet of late although we are hoping to do a new album soon. Also, Volunteers my latest CD features a nine piece band of top UK players who helped me come back after a life threatening illness. It's a departure for me - so used to trios and quartets - to have this fantastic little big band with amazing arrangements by flautist Gareth Lockrane", he enthuses. "I also perform in Citrus Sun a group led by Bluey from Incognito which allows me to dip back into the kind of fusion style I used with the late, great Dick Morrissey in the Morrissey Mullen band. The Morrissey Mullen Legacy band is another ongoing project with Vocalist Noel McCalla and we are half way through recording a new album, too. In addition, the soul funk group Kokomo is also having something of a revival."
With such an exhausting schedule Jim simply says, "So basically, I am just enjoying playing in all the different formats and continuing to develop my style."
"Over the years I've been asked many times to do tributes to Wes Montgomery, not least because I'm a fan and we both use our thumb instead of a plectrum, but I always resisted because no one - not even George Benson - can do what Wes did. " explains Jim, "I remember the shock waves when Wes arrived on the scene. His intense soulful and bluesy lines, and an irresistible swing propelled him to the top almost instantly."
But when Claire Martin called and said she wanted to do a CD of Wes tunes with lyrics I became interested. So we went into the studio with Claire's fine Danish trio and then heard that the attorney who deals with the Wes estate refused permission to use many of the lyrics. This was disappointing and it says a lot for Claire's determination that we still managed to complete the Bumpin' album. I've known Claire for over 30 years and played on her debut CD The Waiting Game, the title track an original by Claire. We've worked together many times over the years and I've witnessed her develop into a major song stylist."
With such credentials, and the wonderful album dedicated to Wes that Jim and Claire have produced together, it can only be assumed that the guitarist enjoys playing with singers. A fact that is confirmed as Jim advises that "I also play in the group of my wife vocalist Zoe Francis. Her new album, Blue Town with Hammond organist Ross Stanley, is a set of beautiful bittersweet songs. Zoe is expert at finding lesser known songs that deserve to be heard. This is the third recording that Zoe and I have worked on. She has a unique and haunting way with a lyric and her cool and classy style invites fresh interpretations. I have always loved working with singers having long admired Helen Merrill with Jim Hall and Frank Sinatra with Al Viola. It's where the guitarist gets to be the 'pianist' in the band."
If this was not enough to keep him busy, the guitarist is also quick to remind us of the other projects he is currently involved with. "My organ trio with Mike Gorman and Tristan Mailliot has been quiet of late although we are hoping to do a new album soon. Also, Volunteers my latest CD features a nine piece band of top UK players who helped me come back after a life threatening illness. It's a departure for me - so used to trios and quartets - to have this fantastic little big band with amazing arrangements by flautist Gareth Lockrane", he enthuses. "I also perform in Citrus Sun a group led by Bluey from Incognito which allows me to dip back into the kind of fusion style I used with the late, great Dick Morrissey in the Morrissey Mullen band. The Morrissey Mullen Legacy band is another ongoing project with Vocalist Noel McCalla and we are half way through recording a new album, too. In addition, the soul funk group Kokomo is also having something of a revival."
With such an exhausting schedule Jim simply says, "So basically, I am just enjoying playing in all the different formats and continuing to develop my style."
Click on the album covers to read our review
Click on the album cover to read our review
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