BUMPUS are a hard-gigging Chicago soul and funk band led by James Johnston. However a serious case of vocal cord polyps limited Mr J’s vocal ambitions so he drafted in a different lead voice … Tina M Howell and it’s Tina who fronts Bumpus’ brand new EP – ‘Way Down Deep’.

The mini album begins with a couple of retro funk burners – ‘Already Mine’ and ‘Step Sure’. Interestingly, like those classic funk bands of yesteryear Bumpus keep up the tradition of splitting some of their tunes into parts 1 and 2. Here they offer one song – ‘Way Down Deep’ (the EP’s title tune) in two segments – both very different. Part 1 is rough, tough and edgy but the meandering one and a bit minutes of part 2 slips into smooth jazz territory. Like we said interesting

BUMPUS ‘WAY DOWN DEEP’ is out now.