Every town has that band, the one that seems to rally the entire neighborhood.  In a way, it’s not unlike baseball: diehard fans of the sport are committed to root for the home team, win or lose.  Local bands can muster up that same type of spirit and camaraderie, especially when the hometown heroes can kick the daylights out of outside talent.  If you’ve ever been to a live show where the opening act damn near upstages the headliner, chances are that you have been caught up in the satisfaction of seeing regional acts make good.  One could imagine that Bump Kitchen instills that sense of pride for the residents of Tacoma, Washington.

Armed with soul, funk, and R&B, to say that this group performs like a well-oiled machine is to sell them short.  Their understanding of the groove goes beyond simply landing on “the one,” that rhythmic anchor that our beloved James Brown talked about.  Each member of Bump Kitchen plays with the maturity of an all-star league member, pushing the discipline of the group towards Dream Team status.  Head straight towards “4^th Monkey,” the lone instrumental of the album, for just a taste of what this band can do.  The slap bass of Joe Bevens signals the song’s first breakdown as Everett James supplies the foundation on the drums and Mark Bittler skips across the keys with a fluidity reminiscent of Jean Luc-Ponty on electric violin.  The guitar melodies of David Broyles and Jho Blenis are both diverse and engaging, ranging anywhere from jazz improv to fierce solo work with a hard rock edge, depending upon the song.

The addition of Tony Harper’s vocals to this ensemble is a godsend.  As a front man, he completes Bump Kitchen and is a formidable weapon within the band’s arsenal.  Their take on a Bill Withers standard (“Use Me”) is served up in a calm but tight fashion and Harper’s tones ride the groove with equal amounts of cool.  “Back In The Day” slows things down a bit to great effect, allowing Harper to throw a little doo-wop inspiration into the mix as he croons about childhood memories and the soul artists that supplied the soundtrack to his youth.  When it’s time to kick things up a notch, the lead vocalist is a commanding presence, particularly on cuts like “Mona Lisa” and “Use Me.”  “You’re lookin’ good,” sings Harper, sizing up the song’s object of desire.  “Who will the next fool be?”  “Tell Me” makes for a great companion piece, taking the energy into guitar-heavy territory that’s almost worthy of head-banging moments.  Harper matches the song’s intensity with pipes that evoke attitude and passion, placed alongside one of the best guitar solos on the album.

Bump Kitchen’s latest release will resonate with fans of funk and blues alike.  With a musical stew this delicious, listeners will more than likely come back for seconds once the album concludes.  As Tony Harper declares on the opening number, “Bump Kitchen’s got somethin’…”  And what they’ve got will surely satisfy.

Reviewed By Jason Randall Smith

Jason Randall Smith, Reviews Bump Kitchen, Mark Bittler, Who Ordered The Waffle