Member Since: 11/10/2005
Band Website: thrilljockey.com
Band Members: Neil Rosario, Mark Henning
Influences: Rahmlee, Stolen Pleasures, Magic Tricks, Charlie... Last Name Wilson
Sounds Like: Kings and Queens is a banquet of delights, like a 31-flavor ice cream social on a hot summer's day where the beat of a hand in motion keeps time for a gaggle of face-painters, genies and roller-queens, but above all it's about body music. It's about a love for the world of vibrations.“Times have been tough for everyone,†says founding member Neil Rosario. “The natural reaction for me is to work it out on the dance floor.†But while there is definitely a party going on at various points on Kings & Queens, to merely call it a "party record" is not giving it a proper spin. The group has clearly maintained its labor-of-love approach and penchant for towering stacks of sound, yet Kings and Queens represents a marked sonic departure from the National Trust's last record, Dekaggar (Thrill Jockey, 2002).Kings and Queens makes plenty of nods to disco, house, and pop, “but for us, it was more about listening to what was around us on the streets, in parks, clubs, wherever,†said the National Trust's Mark Henning. Equally present on Kings and Queens are soaring brass arrangements, Latino percussion and synth lines with more zap than an electric fence. The end result is a showcase for some of Chicago's finest musical talents.The production of Kings and Queens is the shared work of Mark Henning, Neil Rosario and Abel Garabaldi, recording engineer for the likes of R. Kelly, Fat Joe, Charlie Wilson, Ciara and Britney Spears.Horns on Kings and Queens are provided by Hypnotic, a family band, all sons of Kelan Phil Cohran, an early member of the Sun Ra Arkestra and a cofounder of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.Charles 'Chuck-a-Luck' Hosch is a Chicago bass legend with a résumé including duties for the Emotions, Teddy Pendergrass, Little Milton, and back-up playing for Verdine White in Earth, Wind & Fire.Kings and Queens was mastered by Herb Powers, Jr., a former club DJ whose mastering credits include some of New York City’s greatest Dance, R&B and Hip Hop hits: The Nick Straker Band - "A Little Bit of Jazz"; Brian and Zan - "Pump Your Body"; R. Kelly - "Ignition"; Run DMC – “Rock Boxâ€; Eric B. and Rakim – “Paid In Full†LP; EPMD – “Strictly Business†LP; Missy Elliot – “Supa Dupa Fly" LP.
Record Label: Thrill Jockey
Type of Label: Indie