✯ Lauren Garnier “BEAUTIFUL ! Straight on PBB Radio playlist”
✯ Radio Canada “This is superb energy”
✯ Radio Helsinki “This is just great. nice goove, musical finesse & great vocals”
✯ Jazz FM UK “Killing. love it !”
✯ DJ Tahira “love it”
✯ Radio Helsinki “this will be one of this years highlights”
✯ bamalovesoul “so good”
✯ WDR 5 Planeten “great album”
“Good Evening Black Buddha” is Black Jesus eXperience’s seventh studio album. Inspired by the land we live on and the connection to all that have gone before and will follow, inspired by the multicultural power of our community, inspired by the paradox of the story of the Black Buddha. From the perversity of the pandemic and its imposition of separation comes “Good Evening Black Buddha”, celebrating togetherness. Darkness is light.
At the heart of Black Jesus eXperience’s inspiration is Ethiopian/Australian singer Enushu Taye. Enushu’s openness and poetic insight, delivered with unique beauty in her own Amharic tongue, lie at the core of “Good Evening Black Buddha” and all that Black Jesus eXperience (BJX) do. MC Mista Monk (Liam Monkhouse) compliments and contrasts with rhymes and flow born of Africa and outback Australia. BJX are joined by their great friends powerhouse singer Vida-Sunshyne, and crystalline new voice Gracie Sinclair.
The songs on “Good Evening Black Buddha” rove from the lightness of touch of a trio to BJX’s full fourteen piece polyrhythmic, polymetric, polytonal Ethiofunk juggernaut with six-piece horn arrangements. Soloists include living national treasure Bob Sedergreen on keyboards, Peter Harper on saxophone, Ian Dixon on trumpet, Zac Lister guitar, Larry Crestani guitar and his own invention ‘kraartar’, over the deep grooves of Richard Rose bass, James Davies kit, and Kahan Harper percussion.
Black Jesus eXperience is also proud to be joined by our friends conga player Louis Poblete, kraar and masinko virtuoso Endalkachew Yenehun, proud Kuku Nyunkal man and master yiki yiki (dijeridu) player Sean Ryan.
Recorded by Jimi Wyatt at Sing Sing and Zac Lister at BJX Mobile Studio.
Mixed by Jono Podmore.
Mastered by Streaky.
Original artwork by John Ryrie, design by Richard De Angelis.
Produced and arranged by Peter Harper and Ian Dixon.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.