Topaz, a native Texan, took up saxophone at an early age and was
classically trained in jazz principles while attending the Duke
Ellington School for the Arts in Washington D.C. Armed with a vast set
of skills at a young age, Topaz further honed his chops on the horn with
a move to New York City and landed a record deal with the Velour label
in the mid 1990s. In the Big City, Topaz enjoyed a decade of remarkable
success as a jazz saxophonist – performing on national networks such as
BET, and sharing stages with internationally known artists including
Norah Jones, TV on the Radio, and Widespread Panic.

As time progressed, the need to do more, to grow – to evolve – burned
deep inside the musician. Often the first step toward eventual maturity
in any spirit is a return to roots, and that’s where Topaz headed with a
return to his hometown of Austin. Reconnecting with Austin’s
free-flowing organism of sound, Topaz felt compelled to explore and add
more to his traditional jazz/funk sax-only repertoire.

Vocals came first, and – despite initial anxiety – taking the mic felt
right. Next harmonica, and eventually guitar were incorporated into his
musical persona. With these new sets of developing skills came a new
accompanying sound that brought out new emotions and gave the listener
an experience that felt more … raw … dirty … real.

In the pursuit of band mates to add layers of sound and depth, Topaz
first encountered bassist Bobby Perkins at a house jam session. Perkins,
a native of Italy, Texas and veteran of Carolyn Wonderland, laid the
foundation for Topaz’s roots-oriented vision.

Alex Marrero, lead singer of the alternative Latin group Ghandaia –
provided the next piece to the puzzle. Having perfected his front-man
charisma and vocal skills, Marrero was experiencing his own musical
evolution by moving to the drums with a style as diverse as his former
band’s Reggae, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian influences suggest. Marrero, in
turn, helped lead his fellow musicians to the final ingredient of what
would become a most intoxicating brew. Guitarist John Branch, much like
Topaz, had left behind a jazz background in the Bay Area to return home
to Texas. Branch had recently turned his considerable skills toward
perfecting sweet southern-drenched bottleneck guitar licks – a wonderful
and mesmerizing way to tie this foursome together to form one dynamic,
succinct unit.

Thus was born Mudphonic.

A new, sweaty, dance-your-ass off sound that fuses gritty blues and
groove with the collective band history of jazz and Latin sounds. After
a month spent recording in a barn on the river, Mudphonic has emerged
with their debut album ‘Music for Dorothy.’


PRESS:

“While other bands have taken the templates of Americana and Southern
rock widescreen since its halcyon days in the ‘60s and ‘70s, few have
had any meat on their sonic bones. Not so with Topaz & Mudphonic, who
like their peers in the Black Keys bring muscle to old-fashioned,
head-bobbing anthems. In an age of digital dilettantes, the rural funk
of this crew is refreshing—and much needed.”
-Metromix

“A torrid affair of percolating psychedelic funk and raunchy backwoods
Texas blues produces Topaz & Mudphonic, a bastard child that could just
as easily rock platforms on the streets of New York City as it could let
its bare feet dangle in the Colorado River.”
-Jambase

“Music For Dorothy is Topaz and Mudphonic’s first studio release. It was
reported to be recorded in an old barn on the banks of the Colorado
River - a terribly fitting setting to produce such an organic, boggy
Texan euphony. Calling this album gritty doesn’t do it justice. It’s
dirty. A good dirty. Like a humid Texas summer night, dripping greasy
fried chicken down your shirt and licking your fingers, canned beer,
dancing with your shoes off on a sticky bar room floor and not giving a
happy damn dirty.”
-Austin Sound

"Topaz & Mudphonic is canned Southern heat, a hooch brew of dirty bayou
funk and redneck rock... bottling the down home soul of Bill Withers. "
- The Austin Chronicle

"This dusky, riff based Southern rock falls somewhere between Little
Feat, Tony Joe White and the North Mississippi Allstars.
- All Music Guide