Cornelius Bumpus

Cornelius Bumpus' lifelong pursuit of the saxophone and his eagerness for diversity has found him sharing worldwide stages and studio time with some of the greatest names in pop/rock history -- The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs -- as well as top names in jazz fusion (Jeff Lorber) and country music (Lacy J. Dalton). Folks in his adopted home of New York, however, are just as likely to see him playing nightclubs, weddings, even in subways when the muse hits him -- all part of his amazing, people-pleasing love affair with the horn and a desire to constantly improve his craft.

When The Doobies broke up in 1982, the veteran sideman ventured into solo territory with A Clear View (1982) and Beacon (1983). His Palmetto Records debut, Known Fact, marks a long awaited return and his first splash into the world of smooth jazz. The music on the collection grew out of demo sessions Bumpus did with some of his old cohorts when Boz Scaggs--whom Bumpus toured with last year--offered him some free studio time in San Francisco. "A lot of sideman play their gigs just hoping for a big opportunity to become a star, but I've always been comfortably playing in a band setting," says the Dallas native who grew up in Santa Cruz, California. "This just seemed like a right time to record some original material, and (producer and Palmetto owner) Matt Balitsaris saw the potential in the original six songs. We re-recorded those and added a few cool cover tunes, including songs by the Doobies and Steely Dan." "The project is a strong representation of every type of music I grew up listening to and have made a part of my professional career, from R&B to jazz to blues to Latin to rock," he adds. "In fact, when I play rock, it's always with a jazz and soul vibe to it. To me, those styles are inseparable. The songs on the album speak a lot to my sense of excitement and musical adventure. I've based my career on a commitment to exploring uncharted waters, and Known Fact takes me to new places while also revisiting cherished memories of the past."

Growing up, Bumpus recalls his parents' amazing record collection having a great impact on his musical development: "They had early Nat King Cole trio, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bill Doggett, Fats Domino, James Brown...I started playing alto in the school band in Santa Cruz when I was ten and was gigging by 12, playing Portuguese dances in Central California!" After fronting an R&B band throughout his teens, he briefly joined the band of Bobby Freeman ("Do You Want To Dance") and then slowly built what he calls "an ever expanding circle of activity. My goal was only to stay as busy as possible and become a respected working musician."

In 1977, Bumpus joined a new incarnation of the popular 60's band Moby Grape and wrote one tune for their "Live Grape" album. Soon after, he hooked up with The Doobie Brothers just as they were about to tour behind their Minute By Minute release. From 1979 through 1982, he was a touring and recording band member, appearing on In Harmony, One Step Closer (which included an original Bumpus composition), Japan Tour '81, Best of the Doobies II, and their Farewell Tour album, as well as the all-star No Nukes recording. When the Doobies reunited in the late 80s and then again in the late 90s, Bumpus eagerly rejoined the fold; these stints included yet another great live collection, Rockin' Down the Highway. Since moving to New York in 1986, he has appeared with Hugh Masekela, Etta James, John Simon (who produced David Sanborn's first album), the New York Rock and Soul Revue (with fellow Doobie Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen, Phoebe Snow, et al) and Steely Dan (appearing on their live release Alive in America).

"My resume seems very diverse, but the one constant throughout my sideman and solo work is the sound of the instrument and my ongoing desire to find ways to improve my skills," says Bumpus. "The joy comes from seeing where the road leads at all times, having the confidence to trust in my abilities enough to venture out time and again. I'm always fascinated at the kind of gigs I get. It never mattered to me if I was playing with a world famous band or with unknown musicians in a club, as long as I have had the opportunity to practice my craft."

Known Fact is bound to raise the public's ears towards this craft, leading to a discovery of not just another sideman out for a one shot lark, but a true artist of vision and integrity who promises to give smooth jazz an earful in the coming years.