Maimon And The Mongoose Band

Hey Mongooseheadz old and new, here and around, Eyes blinking in the morning light, we emerged from the depths of Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood, California. We held out a hot CD, fresh off the press, all afire to hand it over to you. It’s called Third Ear. The heart is where the music starts, yeah, the heart is the “third ear,” where opposites live in harmony and the mind comes to rest. We’ve got the Third Ear launch party coming up June 6 at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica and we can’t wait to link up with you again. It was intense to be in the studio grooving and working hard to get the booty-and-soul sound happening. But now that it’s done, we’re really jonesing for those nights when the mood is right and we find each other where the stage and the dance floor become one. So pass the word and leave us your e-mail address; we’ll let you know what we’re up to. Lend us your “third ear” and tell us what you feel./////// Maimon Chocron began journeying early on in life. His Jewish-Moroccan parents left North Africa just prior to his birth. They lived briefly in Paris where their son was born, then made their way to Canada where they settled in Montreal’s Moroccan-Sephardic community. Maimon picked up his first guitar at eleven, playing mostly rock music, and influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. His world was rocked in 1979 when he heard Bob Marley's Kaya; it recalled the Moroccan trance-music he heard as a child. He was home. Maimon soon found himself writing songs, playing with international musicians, and learning reggae from Jamaican artists in Montreal. In 1989, he formed Geoulah, (Redemption in Hebrew). His original songs were inspired by spiritual teachings coupled with the everyday experiences of urban youth. Geoulah's first album, Soul Deliverance, was released in 1995. The popularity of the CD propelled the band onto stages all over Canada and the U.S. northeast. It was during this period that Maimon developed his signature tri-lingual chanting and his energetic, elevating performance style. On the momentum of the success of the album, Maimon moved from Montreal to Los Angeles and changed the band’s name to Mongoose (the small, fierce animal that is nemesis to the snake). The band quickly became part of the L.A. music scene, opening for such artists as Buju Banton, Third World, Joe Higgs, Lee Scratch Perry, Eek-A-Mouse, Shaggy, Third World, Steel Pulse and The Wailers. Mongoose held a four-year gig at Santa Monica’s West End where an eclectic fan base faithfully converged to get its weekly dose of urban spiritual grooves. In 1999, Ronnie “Stepper” McQueen joined Mongoose on bass and brought a steady ground to Maimon’s uplifting style. They recorded a five-song EP, entitled Special Edition, released in 2000 with “Stepper” at the helm as producer. The music evolved again in 2001 when Maimon met Anthony “Brew” Brewster one late night after a Temple Bar gig. He went on to collaborate with Brew’s House of Vibez crew with whom he developed a smooth synergy. He contributed on tracks for H.O.V artists and they helped him hone a new sound with an R&B/Soul influence. Since then, Maimon has been nurturing this “neo-roots” sound, blending Sephardic chant, reggae bass and drums, and a street-soul sensibility. He regularly performs in Montreal where his fan base and his connection with the music scene have remained strong. In 2006, Skank records approached Maimon to release a new CD. With a fully deployed crew that had been performing consistently and tightening its sound, and with Ronnie producing once again, the band recorded its latest CD, Third Ear. Maimon is presently performing, promoting Third Ear, and starting work on the next Maimon and the Mongoose Band release.To pick up this crucial disc, click here.