Billy Mohler is a Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter originally hailing from southern California. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, where he studied bass, Mohler later earned a coveted spot at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at UCLA on a full scholarship. There he studied with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and other legendary musicians.

Mohler’s career isn’t limited to jazz, though. He was a member of the rock group The Calling, whose debut album Camino Palmero was a global hit, selling over five million copies worldwide. His unique background has led him to work with a wide array of artists, including Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, Niles Rodgers, Kelly Clarkson, Steven Tyler, and Macy Gray, among others.

Mohler released his debut, Focus, in 2019 — a jazz record that was enthusiastically received, with Nextbop dubbing the work as “an incredibly free, unconstrained and inventive record filled with exciting twists and turns and constant detours.” Joining him on this and his next three outings were tenor saxophonist Chris Speed and Kneebody members Shane Endsley on trumpet, and Nate Wood on drums (who is also a childhood friend). His follow-up, Anatomy, received four stars from DownBeat, which noted, “Mohler’s instincts and experience in rock and pop translate well to writing original jazz music that, despite the seriousness and sincerity of the craft, manages to remain engaging and — yes — fun.” Mohler’s next record, Ultraviolet, again received a four-star review from DownBeat, which lauded the album as “deliciously listenable as postmodern jazz gets.”

For his latest project, The Eternal, Mohler changed things up a bit. Released in March, the record features a new cast of characters, including guitarist Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Damion Reid (Terence Blanchard, Robert Glasper, Ravi Coltrane, and MANY others), and Devin Daniels on alto sax (Herbie Hancock). The album is very bass-forward, but it gives ample room for all the members to shine, with Jazz Wise noting, “it’s the band tracks that impress with their energy and commitment.”

Mohler, along with Chris Speed, is also a member of ex-Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin’s Complex.

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