PRESS PAGE

By Kirk Anderson

March 1st, 2023

The Rumba Kings: From Greece to the Blues “Love from Mykonos” exudes the Mediterranean and Latin backgrounds of the Rumba Kings…” By Kirk Anderson “I was sitting on my deck looking towards the west as the sun began to set over Mykonos, Greece, and the Aegean Sea. Mykonos is set off the southeast coast of Greece in the warm Aegean waters north of the Mediterranean Sea.” 

Bassist, producer, and songwriter Johnny Bacolas remembers everything about the scene and remembers sipping on a scotch while taking in the whitewashed buildings of Mykonos with their iconic blue roofs. 

The 1938 law decreeing whitewashing all buildings in the Cycladic Islands (Islands just off of the Greek mainland) with white limestone as limestone was thought to be a powerful disinfectant meant to fight the Cholera outbreak of the era. 

The whitewashed buildings with their blue roofs reflect the colors of the national flag of Greece as well as the blue waters of the Aegean with their whitecaps. Warm and moist winds blow from the Aegean and over the arid lands of Mykonos like a moist kiss. The scents of fig trees and sea salt over the sound of the waves bring alternating classic Greek island sensations as the afternoon drifts to evening. 

The setting rays of the sun project their colors over the whitewashed houses as the glass of scotch again beckons. The Bluetooth speaker he brought is cued up with a demo of the Rumba Kings latest album as the single “Love from Mykonos” joins the sights and smells. 

Written by the Rumba Kings’ co-founder George Stevens, “Love from Mykonos,” exudes the Mediterranean and Latin backgrounds of the Rumba Kings. A perfect soundtrack for the moment and the inspiration for the supporting videos shot around Mykonos and Santorini. 

The scenic vistas from Mykonos seem a long way from the blues of America, but there is a groove in blues known as a blues rhumba groove. This groove you can hear in Albert King’s “Crosscut Saw,” and especially notable on B.B. King’s “Woke Up This Morning” on his seminal 1956 release Live at the Regal. 

Still don’t hear the connection? How about the blues rhumba groove also present on the Yardbirds version of “For Your Love” to “Black Magic Woman” by Fleetwood Mac all the way through to “Don’t Lie to Me (I Get Evil)” by Garry Moore, B.B. King, Albert King and The Rolling Stones. Even Los Lobos and Carlos Santana loosely use the blues rhumba groove in their music. 

With that, we are going to take trip with the Rumba Kings to the full rumba side of the rhumba blues groove and their newest releases as they ramp up for their four shows at The Triple Door in Seattle. An early and late show each on Friday, March 3rd and Saturday March 4th. I saw one of their shows in late 2022 and the combination of the sights and sounds of the Rumba Kings, their guests on stage and a super comfortable venue with an exceptional staff provided an incomparable evening made to just let go and have a great time. 

KNKX is again behind the Rumba Kings as they present the shows at the Triple Door this month. One of the nation’s most popular public radio stations serving our community since 1966, KNKX’s usual gig is bringing us the genre of blues and jazz over the radio waves. As with this article, they are exploring the pure rhumba side of the rumba blues groove. 

The relationship between the Rumba Kings and KNKX goes back several years. Johnny describes their first encounter four or five years ago when the Rumba Kings were playing regular Thursday night gigs in Bellevue. The residency helped the band gain fans and exposure as well as bring in new and regular patrons to the venue. The performances were so successful that the Rumba Kings were tapped to play a slot at the 2018 annual Bellevue Blues and Jazz Festival as one of the headliners. With KNKX being all about the  March 2023 BLUESLETTER Washington Blues Society 15 blues, jazz and the community, the Rumba Kings’ unique set led to an in-studio performance on KNKX that was so well-received that two more in studio performances followed. 

The longevity of a band can be short-lived, or its life can be traced back with a succession of successes and fate. So is the case with the Rumba Kings as Johnny Bacolis remembers having a vision for a new band back around 2010. He heard of another incredible musician who was playing at The Loft in Edmonds. That musician was George Stevens (front man/songwriter/lead guitarist/lead bouzouki). When Johnny saw and heard George that day, he was amazed and thought that the two could meld their styles into that vision. 

Johnny asked George to meet him later at his studio and as the two played and talked, they both saw that they had similar visions for their dream group. In 2015, Johnny and George co-founded the Rumba Kings. They worked to make their dreams real as they wrote songs that pulled from their heritage and played with other musicians finding their way to that distinctive sound of the Rumba Kings. 

The Rumba Kings really morphed into two bands with the same regional inspirations and song base, but one had a special sound for the studio. The other took those same influences in the direction of a live band. Inspired by the rumba of the Mediterranean, the rich history of Latin music and the likes of Chico Bouchikhi and Nicolas Reyes of the Gipsy Kings, the Rumba Kings put their full efforts into working on their first album. 

In early 2016, Johnny Bacolas and George Stevens formed the band for live shows. Two lifetimes of music and influences came together. Two lifetimes of live performances and recording led to a band that the two had dreamed about and was now being brought to life. 

The new Rumba Kings were performing around Seattle in small bars/clubs as they found the magic and found what needed more work. Fans started to respond to the passion coming from the stage and identified with the enjoyment that each show generated. Gigs were more and more crowded and venue size grew. More and more people heard about the excitement and wanted to be part of it. 

With an outstanding set of studio musicians, they started production on their first album, The Instrumental and Vocal Sessions, Vol. 1. The album was a double disc venture released in 2018, which took advantage of technology and authenticity. Authenticity due to Johnny and George’s background and influences and authenticity based on using musicians from Greece. Producer Johnny Bacolis used technology to mesh the musicians in Greece with the musicians in the USA through both MP3 and live inter-country mixes. 

The album received continued support from KNKX as well as Seattle area newspapers. The dream that was birthed that day in the studio eight years earlier was exuding off the stage, touching fans and beckoning reality! 

By 2019, The Rumba Kings released their second album, The Instrumental Sessions, Vol. II. They continued to grow towards their dream, but as is the case with many of the musicians I have covered in the pages of the Bluesletter, COVID-19 put the brakes on this growth. 

But the dream was not extinguished by the extended quarantine. The dream was still very alive in Johnny and George, and they continued to work hard and focus on their dream. They released three quarantine videos in 2020. They also found ways to upgrade their live show hoping the pandemic would subside and the fans would still remember the fun that they had at their live shows. 

Working with composer Seth-May Patterson, Rumba Kings music director Johnny Bacolis integrated one of the area’s top string quartets, Arcobelano Strings, into their live show experience. The stage was set with experience, lifelong heritage inspiration and burning passion. So many elements seamlessly worked together finally brought the dream they had more than 10 years earlier to life. They continue to incorporate other artists they respect into their live shows. 

“This is how George and I always envisioned our shows when we were planning them early on,” said Johnny.. “It’s pure class. It’s a like night out at the legendary Copacabana in the 40s in New York.” 

Keeping in line with their influences, George adds, “If it isn’t beautiful, it doesn’t make the cut.” 

Page 14 Photo: The Rumba Kings at The Triple Door in 2021 (Photo courtesy the Artist)

THE RUMBA KINGS ARE COMING TO KIRKLAND ON APRIL 7

By Evan Pappas

epappas@soundpublishing.com

 January 25th, 2019

With a blend of Mediterranean, Latin, and Middle-Eastern style, Seattle-based band The Rumba kings are preparing for their biggest show yet at Kirkland Performance Center on April 7.
 

After a successful few years selling out shows in Seattle and the Eastside, The Rumba Kings want to take their performance to a bigger stage with a larger production. Johnny Bacolas, co-founder, producer, and one of the lead performers, said Kirkland Performance Center gives them the venue to have a big theater show in a way that he has always envisioned with more musicians, dancers, a big stage and a large audience. 

"We are an instrumental group primarily," Bacolas said. "We have this mix between the real soft ballad type of songs similar to Yanni, but we use nylon string guitars instead of keyboards. We have these really lush melodies, with a Mediterranean-Latin overtone." 

As the bass, bouzouki, and guitar player, Bacolas also co-writes and produces the music. He said the group formed in 2015 when he met guitar player George Stevens. Stevens moved to Washington from Los Angeles in 2012, and met Bacolas soon after me performed live music in a restaurant in Edmonds. The next day they began working on music together. "With the way you play guitar, and I produce music and write music, I think we could take this all the way," Bacolas recalled saying to stevens. "I knew this is the guy I needed to work with."

They worked out of Bacolas' home studio for the next two years creating their first album as The Rumba Kings.  Along the way they formed a group for their live performances featuring other musicians Bacolas and Stevens knew. The Rumba Kings line-up includes Teddy Adams on guitar, Vinnie Uanno on guitar, Tor Dietrichson on percussion, Andrey Zasypkin on drums, and Bahaa Sadak on keyboards.

 
Stevens said the band began playing smaller bars and bistros with the goal of becoming a big stage band. Over the past three years they have sold out shows across Seattle and the Eastside, and Kirkland Performance Center will be the group's next big step.

In addition to the April show, The Rumba Kings also are planning for the release of their second album in June. Stevens said they will be performing all-new original songs from their new album at their Kirkland show.

Bacolas' own history in music runs deep. In high school he was one of the founding members of the band Alice N' Chains, the earliest incarnation of a band that would go on to become the popular Alice In Chains in the 1990’s. Bacolas was also a co-founder of the band Second Coming in the early 90's, which went on to be signed by capitol records.

For more on The Rumba Kings, visit www.therumbakings.net Tickets for the April show at Kirkland Performance Center are available at www.kpcenter.org/event/the-rumba-kings

The Rumba Kings | Live Studio Session

By Robin Lloyd

JUNE 8, 2017

Listen to the audio of the interview on KXRX's site here

The Rumba Kings | Live Studio Session

Robin Lloyd: The Rumba Kings have evolved over the last couple of years into a guitar-driven band that plays passionate music in the flamenco, rumba, Greek, Italian and Spanish styles, and more.   The lush Mediterranean and Romani sounds and rhythms are irresistible, and the most recent addition to the group, vocalist Rustam Shtar, adds another romantic dimension. 

(Transcription of interview)

Robin Lloyd: Today we go Mediterranean. 

We have The Rumba Kings, and they’ve evolved over the few years in a guitar-driven band that plays music in the flamenco and Rumba and Greek and Italian and Spanish styles, and even more. Tonight, their Thursday night gig at Bakes Place in Bellevue is part of the Bellevue Jazz and Blues Festival and we’re very, very excited to Welcome, The Rumba Kings. 

(0:57) Song plays “Dartanian”

Robin Lloyd: Alight, we got a lot of music to fit in, so I’m gonna ask you to just go right into your next tune. The first one was called Dartanian. The Rumba Kings live on KNKX

(5:30) – Song plays “Arabic”.

Robin Lloyd: The Rumba Kings on 88.5 KNKX, live, Jazz Cliente’ Studio Session.  Wow ok, so a couple of keywords pop into my head like passion, ok, and, let’s talk to Johnny Bacolas who’s the bass player, and kinda spokeman for the group.

Johnny Bacolas: Ah…One of them. One of them.

Robin Lloyd: Ok. Tell us, I see different nationalities and I hear a bunch of different things going on here, how did all of you guys get together, and how did you find each other?

Bacolas: Well, George started this in Los Angeles, with another band he had called The Gipsy Boys down there. When he moved up here a couple years ago, him and Teddy were working together. I came across them, in June, about a year ago to the day literally, June, two years ago, June of 2015 and we combined forces.  George and I started writing and recording immediately, which we’re still making a record, we’re kinda at the tail end of the recording process now.  And about a year, year and half ago, we started taking it to the clubs and assembling a set list, some originals, some Gipsy Kings, some covers, some of the traditional covers, and we started playing live a year ago. So, It really was conceived about 2 years ago when we started collaborating in the studio. That’s really were it started.

Robin Lloyd: And your interest in all these different kind of music, where did that come from? 

Bacolas: George (Stevens)?

George Stevens: Well I was brought up, I’m actually a real Gipsy. I come from a long line of musicians. My father was a brilliant accordion player. My grandfather a mandolin player. So I’ve just been around this style of music my whole life. My whole family plays music, so I’ve just been around it my whole life. 

Robin Lloyd: Well, you have a great sound, and its energetic, I understand your live shows you do a little more moving around in a showmanship kinda of thing. 

Stevens: With this kind of music it’s hard to sit still. 

Robin Lloyd: I also don’t see bouzoukis here today?

Bacolas: We didn’t bring the bouzoukis today.

Robin Lloyd: But you’ll have them tonight? 

Bacolas: We’ll have them tonight, oh ya, we have them out at every show. Ya, that’s cool you know what they are.

Robin Lloyd: So Johnny Bacolas on Bass; George Stevens on guitar, and bouzouki when you have them; Teddy Adam’s lead and rhythm guitar; Andrey Zaspykin on Drums; Tor Dietrichson on percussion, which is always a treat; And the newest member of your band, which we’re going to get to next, is Rustam Shtar, vocals and saxophone.

Bacolas: Rustam Shtar. Rustam Shtar is an equivalent of a Grammy winning vocalist in Russia. Very well-known in Russia, very well respected, critically acclaimed. and has won the equivalent of a Grammy there. He started working with us about a month ago. Our friend Narina brought him in one night to a show and Rustam came on stage and sang with us and just blew us away, and we’ve been working with him ever since.

Robin Lloyd: Great, well let’s bring him up and see what he can do here The Rumba Kings with Rustam Shtar on vocals coming on 88.5 KNKX Jazz Cliente’ live studio session. 

(14:47) Song plays “Historia D’ Amore”

Robin Lloyd: Historia D Amore, from The Rumba Kings with Rustam Schtar. Lets have another one from The Rumba Kings on 88.5 KNKX live Jazz Cliente studio session

(22:47) – Song Plays “Djelem Djelem”

Robin Lloyd: Wow! The Rumba Kings. It got a little warn in here. Goodness. Yes. Alright, passion and romance and great, great music, they’re at Bake’s Place tonight in Bellevue, part of the Bellevue Jazz and Blues festival. You’re actually there most Thursday nights, are you not, for a while? 

Bacolas: Yes

Robin Lloyd: Ok. It’s been an absolute treat to have you here, thank you so very much. 

Bacolas: Thank you guys for having us.

Rustam Shtar: They are amazing musicians, Rumba Kings. I’m Rustam Shtar. Thank you so much.

Robin Lloyd: Thank you Johnny, and everybody. Alright, so get out and see them. Also, let us know when your recordings are ready, because we’d love to have them. 

Bacolas: We will, thank you very much for that. 

Listen to the audio of the interview on KXRX's site here

The Rumba Kings | Live Studio Session

By Robin Lloyd

FEBRUARY 22, 2018

Listen to the audio of the interview on KXRX's site here

It’s only been 8 months since the Rumba Kings’ first Studio Session on KNKX, but we couldn’t resist their excitement over releasing their first recording, a double-disc CD:  The Instrumental and Vocal Sessions, Volume One.  Once again, their energy and virtuosity delighted our listeners.  The Rumba Kings bold and romantic blend of Latin, Mediterranean and Gypsy music is irresistible!

Robin Lloyd: Please welcome once again, The Rumba Kings.

(:28) song plays – “Sunset Paradise”

Robin Lloyd: It’s The Rumba Kings in a live studio session here on 88.5 KNKX, It’s your second in, thank you so much for being here. 

Johnny Bacolas: Thank you for having us.

Robin Lloyd: The Rumba Kings, Johnny Bacolas on bass, and George Stevens on lead guitar, Teddy adams on mostly rhythm guitar, Andrey Zasypkin on drums in the back there, and any drum, any key, any where, any time, Mr Tor Dietrichson over there on percussion. It’s a treat to have you back, you have a CD out, this is your like debut recording, yes?

Bacolas: Yes, its our debut recording. We’ve been working on this for 2 ½ years now. What can I say, we’re thrilled to finally have it finished thrilled to release it now, play Bake’s, and share it with everyone now.  It’s a big CD release party at Bake’s Place in Bellevue tomorrow, if you haven’t got your tickets yet you might want to make a call pretty darn soon, cause Im sure, you guys always fill that place. 

Bacolas: Yah…laughs

Robin Lloyd: So, it’s mostly originals, mostly original music. 

Bacolas: Yah

Robin Lloyd: So who does most of the writing?

Bacolas: I would say it’s about 50/50 right now, with George and I.

George Stevens: Yah its about 50/50

Bacolas: Teddy’s starting to write right now, but yah I would say It’s probably about 50/50 right now. 

Robin Lloyd: And, tell me, its kinda sometime hard to pin down the ethnic mix of what you’re doing

Stevens: Lets see. I guess Mediterranean would kinda sum it up. 

Robin Lloyd: That’s broad category.

Stevens: Between Spanish and Greek, and like you said, The Gypsy flair, Gypsy soul, ya, so.

Robin Lloyd: Ok, alright. And this is, this is, a family thing for you? I mean…

Stevens: Well my father, God rest his soul, was an amazing accomplished accordion player, my brother is also an accordion player, my sister’s a singer, all of my cousins play guitar professionally. So it definitely, in the blood. Being full-blooded Gypsy, that’s…... 

Bacolas: They’re born with guitars. Once they’re born… (laughs)

Stevens: Yah (laughs)

Bacolas: There’s a guitar right there in the doctor’s office. 

Robin Lloyd: Exactly, yes. They don’t get smacked, they get handed a guitar. 

Bacolas: Lots of jewelry and guitars…..and cologne. They love cologne. 

Robin Lloyd: I wanted to mention how fragrant it is in here. 

Stevens: and cars (laughs)

Bacolas: and cars, right, right, right. (laughs)

Robin Lloyd: We heard Sunset Paradise, let’s hear another one, from The Rumba Kings on KNKX.

(9:18) song plays - Gipsy’s Tear 

Robin Lloyd: Gypsy’s Tear from The Rumba Kings live, KNKX studio session, I’m Robin Lloyd, thanks so much for tuning in for the return of the rumba Kings, and so, tour plans, what are your future plans? 

Stevens: We’ll, we’re kinda taking it one step at a time here, it’s probably in our near future, everything is looking pretty good, so….

Robin Lloyd: Good. Alight. 

Bacolas: We’ll see how the market responds to this record here.

Robin Lloyd: Well, I have to say that we were really excited to get it in, and we’re really excited to play it. Of course, we’ve been playing music from your last studio session as well and it’s just beautiful and exciting and energetic. We’re delighted to have you back. Let’s have another tune from The Rumba Kings. 

Stevens: Ok. This is a fun one

Bacolas: This is one we’re doing by request.

(15:18) song plays – Zorba’s dance

Bacolas: That will wake you up first thing in the morning. 

Listen to the audio of the interview on KXRX's site here

The Rumba Kings | Live Studio Session

By Robin Lloyd

APRIL 10, 2019

Listen to the audio of the interview on KXRX's site here

There are only a handful of artists who have performed more than twice on our live KNKX Studio Sessions. We’re thrilled that The Rumba Kings have hit the mark!  

The group presented a new stage show at Kirkland Performance Center on Sunday, April 7.  Next, we're all invited to their CD release party for “The Instrumental Sessions, Volume 2” at The Triple Door on June 22.

Give a listen to refresh your passion for The Rumba Kings!

Musicians: Johnny Bacolas (bass), George Stevens (guitar), Teddy Adams (guitar), Vinny Uanno (guitar), Mike Fernandez (drums) and Tor Dietrichson (percussion).

ROBIN LLOYD: The Rumba Kings in for their third live KNKX studio session. We don’t do that with everybody you know. 

Johnny Bacolas: We really appreciate it. 

 ROBIN LLOYD: Ok. Alright. We’re celebrating, the fact that they’re her for the third time, we’re celebrating the debut of their new live show this coming Sunday at Kirkland Performance Center and a new CD coming out this summer, or, we’ll talk about that, but first we gotta hear some music. Please help me welcome The Rumba Kings.

(:51) song plays – “Belly Dancer/Oct 22”

ROBIN LLOYD: The Rumba Kings, their third live KNKX studio session, we’re so glad to have you back, thanks for sharing your afternoon with us.

George Stevens: Thank you, 

Bacolas: Thank you

Stevens: It’s a pleasure to be here.

ROBIN LLOYD: What was the name of that tune?

Stevens: We call that one Belly Dancer

ROBIN LLOYD: For obvious reasons.

Stevens: Yah

ROBIN LLOYD: Yah. It just needs a little…..you know…yah…ok

Stevens: That’s it

ROBIN LLOYD: So lets actually introduce all of you.

Bacolas: I’m Johnny Bacolas

Stevens: George Stevens

ROBIN LLOYD: On guitar

Adams: I’m Teddy Adams

ROBIN LLOYD: On another guitar, and….

Uanno: I’m Vinnie Uanno

ROBIN LLOYD: Vinnie. The rookie we were calling him?

Uanno: Yes!

ROBIN LLOYD: And in the back we have on drums?

Fernandez: Mike Fernandez

ROBIN LLOYD: Mike Fernandez and Tor Dietrichson on percussion, of course, and, this group has been together, one form or another, for how long now?

Bacolas: Ah, we started the band about four years ago now. About two of those years were in the studio, basically writing the first two albums we did, which was a double disc set.

ROBIN LLOYD: Right.

Bacolas: And then we started playing live, shortly after that. 

ROBIN LLOYD: We met at Bake’s Place cause that was a regular show for you

Bacolas: Yah, during The Jazz Festival

ROBIN LLOYD: During The Jazz Festival

Bacolas: That’s right

ROBIN LLOYD: It was an eye opener for a lot of us, it was like, whoa! Because what you’re doing is, ok, Rumba, ala, Gipsy Kings kinda thing, but you have so many other different influneces in it, so what I think you’re going after a particular sound rather than a specific regional type of music? Is that what you’re doing?

Bacolas: That’s a good way of putting it, it’s more of a Mediterranean, just kinda different parts of the Mediterranean, that we’re inspired by for the different sounds of the music. 

ROBIN LLOYD: And no bouzouki today, huh?

Bacolas: We didn’t bring a bouzouki huh?

Stevens: No, we didn’t bring a bouzouki today.

Bacolas: Did we have one last time here?

ROBIN LLOYD: I believe you did.

Stevens: We did, yah.

Bacolas: I think we did, yah.

ROBIN LLOYD: Great. Well lets talk about Kirkland Performance Center this Sunday, you’re debuting your new live show right? 

Bacolas: Yes

ROBIN LLOYD: Yah

Bacolas: It’s our new theater show, its our first time playing theaters now. We’ve been playing night clubs for the last couple years and now we’re moving into the theater world.

ROBIN LLOYD: Ok. So that’s sorta expanded, I mean you have more stage to work with, you have…

Bacolas: Yah, we have more stage, we’re gonna bring out some dancers to work on some of the segments, we’re going to be able to bring out more musicians, so yah it gives us a lot more room and we’re custom tailoring these shows now for theater shows instead of night club shows. 

ROBIN LLOYD: Great. Ok. Well I’m very much looking forward to that. I hope everybody can join us. Kirkland Performance Center, This Sunday, show starts at 7:30, you wanna be there early, cause you wanna mingle and stuff, it will be fun. Ok. Lets have another tune.

Stevens: You got it

(9:39) songs plays – “Moonlit Dance” 

ROBIN LLOYD: The Rumba Kings live on KNKX, it’s a studio session and we’re just delighted to have them back for their third time around here, and what was that one called?

Stevens: That one is called “Moonlit Dance”

ROBIN LLOYD: Ooh how nice. Ok. I want to mention of course that you have a new CD coming out and that’s been taking up a lot of your time,

Bacolas: All of our time. (laughs)

Stevens: Yah

ROBIN LLOYD: Are there going to be any surprises, anything different from what you normally do?

Stevens: There’s a few songs there that we took a little different avenue on, on a couple of songs, still along the same lines, but just a little different. So.

ROBIN LLOYD: Ok. I am going to premiere the song, “Lisa,” from the new CD, on Saturday, Jazz Cliente’ this week

Stevens: Beautiful 

Bacolas: Are you serious?

ROBIN LLOYD: Yah, Yah

Bacolas: Cool!

Stevens: Thank you

ROBIN LLOYD: Because we thought it was beautiful.

Bacolas: Oh thank you

Stevens: Thank you

ROBIN LLOYD: So we’ll hear that, jazz Cliente’, 5-6pm, on KNKX. This weekend.

Bacolas: oh fantastic! 

Stevens: I actually wrote that song for my wife.

ROBIN LLOYD: I was gonna ask you, it had to be for somebody you love very much. 

Stevens: Yes, yes

ROBIN LLOYD: You can feel it in there.

Stevens: 23 tears together

ROBIN LLOYD: No way!

Stevens: Yah

ROBIN LLOYD: oohh….

Stevens: Yah

ROBIN LLOYD: that’s wonderful

Bacolas: They married when they were seventeen

ROBIN LLOYD: I guess

Bacolas: They literally did

ROBIN LLOYD: Children, children

ROBIN LLOYD: So this in Instrumental sessions, Vol II, and you’ve been in the studio working really hard on it?

Bacolas: Yes

ROBIN LLOYD: What was different about this, than the first time around you went in the studio and recorded?

Stevens: I don’t know, we’ve learned a lot from the first one. Not much different, same process. It was a lot of putting our brains together into the right parts and specific notes and really spending a lot of time on that.

ROBIN LLOYD: Very detailed.

Bacolas: Really crafting the parts. The first record it seemed like we were kinda putting together our team, finding the right mix engineer, and different musicians and this time around the team has been together now for a couple years, it just seems like it’s much more streamlined right now, like things are moving a lot quicker and more efficiently I guess, that’s the best way to put it. 

ROBIN LLOYD: So you can focus on those details now, and really fine tune everything, so its definitely a Rumba Kings’ sound you’re looking for. 

Srevens: Correct

Bacolas: Right. And now we’re also more familiar how everybody’s playing, and the dynamics of each person’s playing, so we’re able to really craft things even better this time around. I think this record is even better than the last one. 

ROBIN LLOYD: Great, ok alright so that’s coming out in June?

Bacolas: We’ll have the CD release party June 22nd, which you guys are also sponsoring, at The Triple Door, June 22nd.

ROBIN LLOYD: That’s gonna be great fun.

Bacolas: yah

ROBIN LLOYD: Looking forward to this, ok so many opportunities to see this band, this Sunday at Kirkland Performance Center, and in June on the 22nd at The Triple Door. Let’s have one more tune from you guys please. 

(17:56) Song plays – “Alegria”

ROBIN LLOYD: Is that Alegria? That’s happiness, that’s what you spread whenever you play, you guys are just so wonderful, I’ve seen this, I ve seen people, who are these guys, and then they leave with this big smile on their face.

Stevens: That’s our goal.

ROBIN LLOYD: Thank you so much for coming in for the third time and we will see you at Kirkland Performance Center on Sunday, 

Bacolas: Thank you for having us

ROBIN LLOYD: And look for the new CD coming out in June, The Instrumental sessions Vol II, The Rumba Kings

Listen to the audio of the interview on KXRX's site here