Drinking With Clowns is project is led by Baldo Bobadilla (singer/songwriter/producer from Paraguay) and Kristias Trujillo (Drummer/Composer from Mexico), who over the years have been joined by many talented musicians from the South America and the United States and have made amazing contributions to the project, such as the collective’s third member, Alejandro Jimenez (Colombia – Percussion). The idea of spreading positive harmony and love throughout the world is not only limited to the band’s music, as Bobadilla is also the Executive Director of Future Kind – an organization dedicated to bringing educational opportunities to those least fortunate among us, for which the band is an active donor and contributor.
Drinking With Clowns, who have shared the stage with many international artists as well as played at prestigious venues, has so far released four albums, ‘Mind Your Head’ (2007), ‘My New Head’ (2010), ‘El Vuelo’ (2012), and the latest self-titled album ‘Drinking With Clowns’ (2017).
The tracks on this album have a feeling of freedom about them, of the flexible variety and facility, as if each one on its own could easily play on for hours without running out of rhythm and euphony. Their music seems primed to accommodate almost anything, looking back to their heritage, or forward to the latest trends.
The tracks begin as defined arrangements but always sound as if they are ready to accept improvisations and have been tightened through the process of performance into blocks of music that can be savored both melodically and rhythmically.
Each song retains a well-structured Latin flavor, with democratic anticipation of the next instrument, of the next musician who might come in at the moment of their cue. The music of Drinking With Clowns has the atmosphere of a circle rather than a linear hierarchy, the sound of artists looking outwards, at the other musicians, and at the audience, rather than downwards at their shoes or inwards at their miseries and doubts.
This is music for exteriors, for expansion, for diffusion, for bringing joy to the world. But always horizontally, side by side with the listener, and not vertically, looking down at the audience. The pace is set by the groove of the drums and percussion, but there are smooth swaying guitars, rich funky bass lines and vocals in both Spanish and English.
The groove running throughout the album, is sexy without being sexual, it celebrates open-limbed movement rather than flirtatiousness or grinding or anything wet or heavy. This is music for the masses music which shuns exclusivity. Drinking With Clowns are about inclusion, participation, cooperation and sharing, and it comes shining through in their music.
Rhythmically mesmerizing and melodically captivating, Drinking With Clowns can go from the insistent slow burn of “Liberaté” to the rhythmic delights of “Tropical”, and then onto the upbeat funk of “I Wanna” and “Out Of Control” before sliding towards the banging alternative sound of “Time To Go”.
Their varied influences, soaked in with their roots sound, seems to be the perfect combo for the band’s wide range of talents showcasing their natural groove, eclectic flourishes and cultural flavor; if you want a feel for this group here is your starting point. Drinking With Clowns has put together a solid studio recording to chill out, get down, drive around, or simply listen to!
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