Billy Mohler
Biography Billy Mohler
Billy Mohler
is an exploratory jazz bassist who has also amassed wide-ranging credits in the pop world as a GRAMMY-nominated writer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and session player, working with Dolly Parton, Macy Gray, Lady Gaga, Nile Rogers, Sia, Awolnation, Mavis Staples, Kelly Clarkson, Steven Tyler, Jon Brion and a host of others. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Mohler attended the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz as one of only five students, studying with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and other luminaries. His 2019 debut Focus, hailed by Nextbop.com as “an incredibly free, unconstrained and inventive record filled with exciting twists and turns and constant detours,” marked the auspicious start of his quartet featuring tenor saxophonist Chris Speed and Kneebody members Shane Endsley (trumpet) and Mohler’s childhood friend Nate Wood (drums). The group has followed up with its 2022 sophomore release Anatomy, a sonically inventive effort that highlights the players’ loose, raw, indeterminate chemistry as well as Mohler’s rough-hewn, insistently rhythmic compositions.
Speed and Mohler also play together in the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, led by The Smashing Pumpkins drummer, as well as Black Friday TRiO, with a self-titled 2019 release. Collaborators with the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex include Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Rob Dickenson (Catherine Wheel) and the Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley (Mohler’s godfather). An avid skateboarder, Mohler served as musical director for Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam tour, leading a five-piece band on an arena tour and orchestrating the music for Hawk’s extreme sports show. Mohler’s other recording, writing, production and engineering credits include Allison Krauss, Pat Benatar, Miranda Lambert, Elle King, The Airbourne Toxic Event, Samantha Ronson, Kelly Clarkson, Lenka and Liz Phair. In addition, Mohler has composed for national commercials and campaigns including Sworavski, Finlandia Vodka and CSX Trains. In every situation, Mohler finds a way to forge something complete, in a category of its own.
**** Downbeat Magazine “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”
”Combine the talents of an acoustic bassist and bandleader with dynamic compositional visions (Billy Mohler); a drummer whose kinetic grooves purposefully elevate group performance (Nate Wood); a trumpeter whose individual approach draws from the best of the forward-leaning brass players (Shane Endsley); and a tenor saxophonist whose name elicits praise from every great saxophonist (Chris Speed), and you have a quartet of the highest order.” Jazziz
“We can only agree that it did really click again. The music is as tense and warm as the cover art portrays, just as if we were in an invigorated version of the Oneyed Jack Jazz Club from “Twin Peaks.” Best of Jazz
”Under the ceaseless, whirling activity of this music lies an anxiety with—maybe even a rebuke of—the tension and emptiness of existence in our always-on, always-hustling world. If this world was created in California, it's fitting that Billy Mohler's tough-minded and urgent music comes straight outta L.A.” All About Jazz
”it’s clear that these musicians are comfortable with each other and trust their leader. Boasting nothing but advantages, Anatomy is, plain and simple, an excellent record.” Big Takeover
”Anatomy consists of an utterly satisfying set of tunes that, being straightforward in the flow and impeccable in the sound, stands tall in its own.” •••• The Jazz Trail
”These cats are flying and having fun along the way.” Making a Scene
