It's pretty easy to categorize most bands these days. But that's not true of The Soul of John Black, a duo of musical geniuses that is exempt from categorization since it has created a genre of music all its own.
Conceived by vocalist and lead guitarist John "JB" Bingham (formerly of Fishbone) and bassist Christopher "CT" Thomas, the group was formed when the two met through a mutual friend in Los Angeles in 1997.
With a five-piece band, The Soul of John Black is currently on a U.S. tour and will perform Saturday at Plush.
In a recent interview, CT discussed the band's unique sound, "Maui wowie," and tried to discuss Leroy "Sugar" Bonner (lead singer from the Ohio Players).
Wildcat: I've listened to your album many times, and I still don't know how to categorize your sound. What the heck is it?
CT: That's good. That means we did it. We stumped you.
Wildcat: So then what do you call it?
CT: I call it "storyteller music" because there's a story and there's some music in the background that helps you feel comfortable so that you can feel the story. Sometimes we call it "soul rock." It's really whatever you want it to be 'cause everybody comes up to us and says, ÎWow, it sounds hip-hop to me,' ÎWow, it sounds R&B to me,' ÎWow it sounds rock to me.' So already you've got like five things in there. So to each his own basically.
Wildcat: How did you create such an eclectic array of sounds?
CT: Just because of, I think, our knowledge and our record collection. We listen to a lot of music; we grew up around a lot of different things. Between our record collections, we own a lot of records ranging from like, new wave to country to rap to jazz to rock 'n' roll to everything.
Wildcat: How do you think your music has been affected by your training in violin, cello and bass when you were in high school?
CT: Actually, none of my training happened in high school. All of that happened after high school when I moved down to New Orleans and started studying with Ellis Marsalis. And I also played in bands, and that's where I got my education from, as far as my music.
Wildcat: You've performed and toured with artists like Marianne Faithful and Macy Gray. Who did you enjoy touring with the most?
CT: My band. That's it. No. (Laughs) You know what? All of them. Everyone had something to offer; everyone had something a little special. I had a good time in every situation. But I've been fortunate enough to be able to pick and choose the situations I've been in. I never auditioned for any of these positions for any of these people's bands. All of these people asked me personally to join their situation, so I learned a lot from every situation and got out of it whatever I could.
Wildcat: Is this your favorite tour you've been on so far?
CT: It's new for me to be able to write some songs and for people to enjoy them. People know that this is my first time actually doing something like that. For someone to say how great they think it sounds or how inspiring they think it is, it feels incredible.
Wildcat: If you could tour anywhere that you haven't been, where would it be?
CT: I want to go to Hawaii. I think Maui is wowie, if you know what I mean. (Laughs) Australia's another place. And Africa. I've been traveling since I was 18, and so I hit a lot of places, like Hamburg, Germany; Copenhagen and Paris, which were all great and everything, but I'd like to try some new places.
Wildcat: Last question and I'll let you go. Which one does JB sound like the most to you: Al Green or Ron Isley?
CT: Ooh, that's good! What's that one singer who sings lead with the Ohio Players? He sounds like that dude.
Wildcat: Is that what JB says about himself?
CT: That's what I say. But you check them out and find out his name. Al Green is a good one. I'd say Al Green over Ron · with a little bit of that dude from the Ohio Players.