Based by sax man Ben Mendes and drummer Toon Oomen, THE EMINENT STARS are a Europe-based soul, funk and blues instrumental combo who take their inspiration from the music of New Orleans within the 60s and 70s. We final heard of ’em just a few years again with the album ‘Sittin’ In’ which featured loads of Meters-inspired exercises – notably the opening ‘Ben’s Dungeon’ and the feisty and sparse ‘Leaping Beans’.
The band now return with a brand new 9 tracker, ‘Bumpin’ On’ which, roughly, carries on the place ‘Sittin’ In’ left off… that is to say , loads of powerful, tough, natural, feisty funk and soul with a European flavour. Highlights embrace the vocal ‘Bar Shift’ – the story of a drunkard in a late night time bar and the moody, atmospheric ‘Let’s Get Collectively’. The album additionally affords a 9 minute plus medley – ‘The Membership’/’Tune In’ which was recorded stay.