California-based jazz-funk duo Amendola Vs. Blades unleash a lively burst of movement and color on their new single, “Hambela”. The 5:36-minute instrumental will appear on the band’s forthcoming studio effort, Everybody Wins, due out October 11th on vinyl, CD, and digital formats via RPF Records.
Today, ahead of the album’s arrival next month, Live For Live Music is excited to premiere “Hambela”, which makes for an exciting and at times physically engaging listening experience from start to finish.
“Hambela” showcases some wonderful and confident playing from both Wil Blades on his Hammond organ and clavinet and Scott Amendola on drums. The thrill of funk meets the unpredictable and wonderful complexity of jazz throughout the recording, offering a strong introduction to the band’s capability if one is a first-time listener.
“The tune was inspired by my favorite coffee from Hambela, Ethiopia, as well as my obsession with the music of Miles Davis and Tony Williams’ Lifetime,” Blades tells Live For Live Music. “It has that fast uptempo groove because it was undoubtedly written after drinking a cup of this fine Ethiopian bean.”
Adds Amendola, “The tune started with me playing the groove and then Wil jumped on it with the bass line and he took it from there.”
The new single also features guest guitar work from Jeff Parker, best known for his work with legendary post rock outfit, Tortoise. “One of my favorite all-time guitarists, Jeff Parker, joins us on ‘Hambela,'” Blades explains. “He brings both an element of history with his soul and boogaloo playing in the beginning and his own unique personality on the ending of the tune.”
Listen to the exclusive premiere of Amendola Vs. Blades’ “Hambela” below.
Amendola Vs. Blades – “Hambela”
In addition to Parker’s assistance on “Hambela”, Everybody Wins will also feature guest performances from saxophonist Skerik (Les Claypool, Garage A Trois), percussionist Cyro Baptista (Trey Anastasio, Herbie Hancock, Sting), and keyboardist Rob Burger (Tin Hat Trio, Laurie Anderson). Amendola also plays alongside Baptista in the Nels Cline Singers, a lesser-known outfit led by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline.
“Jeff, Skerik, and Cyro are all extremely broad, versatile musicians,” Blades explains of the guest-filled album. “Scott and I are the same. They just fit with what we do; they straddle a lot of stylistic boundaries, all while maintaining their musical voices. We can go in so many different directions musically, and it’s really fun. Everyone is really open-minded and down to go wherever the music takes us!”
Amendola Vs. Blades will be on tour throughout the fall in support of their new studio release with a run of performances scheduled along the western U.S. in California, Washington, and Oregon in late October and early November.
Head to the band’s website for tickets and tour info, and head here to pre-order Everybody Wins.