jpgotmangos 2014

A native of Chicago, Jean-Paul Bourelly is readily known as important figure in progressive music throughout Europe.

While in New York, he worked in a variety on the album with Miles Davis "Amandla" as well in bands with Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Pharaoh Sanders and Cassandra Wilson.

He moved to Berlin to continue on his development of a afro futuristic funk style. Bourelly has experienced a rich music career since his arrival in 1994.

His European experince brought him closer to African Musicians most notably his collaborations with Senegalese griot singer Abdourahmane Diop on his Boom bop projects.

Because of a rich amount of influences and his ability to incorporate them seamlessly into a modernist blues style, Bourelly refuses to be wrestled into any category neatly.

His music extends traditional forms and can best be described through the suffix world, Blue-sy, Hypnot-ic and Intensit-ive. He is also a bit of a chameleon at times recently working through one of his many Aka's Jabbo T Wey or as an Afro funky electronica blues mosher with his group Blues Waka..

He started to appear with a wide spectrum of band on south side of Chicago as early as 15 years old, including encounters with progressive guitarist Pete Cosey, Egyptian influenced Phil Corhan from Sun Ra's early Akestra, Chicago Express Haitian Orchestra and Chicago legend tenor saxophonist, Von Freeman.

While in New York, he worked with Miles Davis "Amandla" as well iwith Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders early collaboration with childhood colleague Steve Coleman and later Cassandra Wilson. He established his own musical direction with 4 releases as Bourelly and the Blue Waves Bandits.

Which included Jungle Cowboy (JMT), Trippin (Enemy) Saints and Sinners (DIW)

His talent for blending new sonic possibilities with the blues rhythm sound got him recognition as a next step forward artist in the eyes of many critics including publications like the New York Times to Jazzthing in Germany. Although he has expressed regret over the naming he was an influential figure within the Black Rock movement in the New York of the 90's.

His affinity for articulating a modern Afro Rock sound can be heard on his BlueWaves Bandit recordings such as Saints and Sinner and Boom Bop I &II as well as 3Kings "Famous Guys"(JPGM2014).

His sound is dramatic, rough and wild with jazz harmonic possibilities.

New developments in his playing include the integration of polyrhythmic tapping that takes from many west african sources and adds another layer to his style. Also his fusing of electronics has slowly been seen in his recordings as well.

Because of a rich amount of influences and his ability to incorporate them seamlessly into a modernist blues style, Bourelly refuses to be wrestled into any category neatly.

His music extends traditional forms and can best be described through the suffix world, Blue-sy, Hypnot-ic and Intensit-ive

Other recording included four consecutive records on the Japanese label DIW. Blackadelic Blu , Rock the Carthartic Spirits, and Fade to Cacaphony. These all help to establish his funky sophisticated sound internationally.

Most recently Bourelly founded the band the Stone Raiders in 2011 with Rolling Stone bassist Darryl Jones and Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun produced by Jpgotmangos with rave reviews from critics.

Today Bourelly work is full of vitality and inventiveness.

He expresses his funk to the public through his label Jpgotmangos which has produced four records to date.

New from a Darked out Room, Stone Raiders, Bourelly's, Cutmotion and Bourelly's 3kings "Famous guys" (2014) .

With "Kiss the Sky"- post Hendrix excursion, Blues Waka Bourelly forges into a new frontier.

He started Spontaneous Youth ArKestra working with young promising musicians utilizing Butch Morris's conduction technique and as creator of "Polyphonic a Spontaneous Town Hall Meeting held at Ballhaus Naunyn in 2014 and into 2015 he continues to be a catalyst for positive change.