Digging deep and giving it all in everything they do Chicago’s Lubriphonic specialize in a unique offering of funky rock n’ roll. The septet’s tight and raw sound is immediately familiar, fusing the roots of soul with explosive in-your-face delivery and sensuous R&B dance music.
The Lubriphonic sound is full of precision orchestrations made up of blazing guitars, tight three piece horn lines, soulful songwriting, bluesy vocals and the habit to cut the funk loose. The best description of the band’s sound comes from Relix Magazine: “Superb, adventurous, diverse, simply mesmerizing instrumental work. Steeped in soul, rock, pop, and blues Lubriphonic's members play with a tenacity and precision that sets them apart from equally proficient bands.”
Lubriphonic is the brainchild of guitarist Giles Corey and drummer Rick King which began as a residency at Chicago’s legendary Checkerboard Lounge, where they recruited some of the best blues, funk, and rock musicians in the city for improvisational live sessions in which the kinetic energy that make a band were initiated.
The evolution from performing as sidemen for the city’s most legendary blues stars such as Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Koko Taylor into an original group came from the hunger of each musician to develop an intense and simmering sound.
Guitarist Corey explains “Everyone in Lubriphonic comes from the Chicago blues or gospel music pools. I met Rick King while playing in blues bands in Chicago, and when we eventually wanted to start a band together all of the cats we knew played the blues. There were and still are all these cats that had a strong foundation in Chicago roots music who understood the feel and the nuances, but were dying to stretch out. Lubriphonic turned out to be a good vehicle for that.”
It’s this expression of creativity and energy at each performance that is paramount to Lubriphonic. “We are a live band first and foremost. There's a palpable energy emitted by any large gathering of people,” Giles continues. “When you perform for an audience and give them positive energy, they take what you give them, amplify it and then throw it back to you. It's a fantastic feeling.”
Lubriphonic – made up of Giles Corey (vocals, guitar), Richard King (drums), Pennal Johnson (bass), Charles Prophet (saxophone), Norman Palm (trombone) and Andrew Toombs (keyboards) – tour extensively, crisscrossing the country playing festivals, theaters and clubs spending over 220 days a year on the road.
Sold out shows, national tours and their evolving sound are proof enough of how relevant Lubriphonic is going to become in the coming years. The group’s recent studio debut, Soul Solution manages to contain the trademark explosive live energy an accurate studio portrayal. Since first forming in 2002 Lubriphonic already boasts a nationwide fan base, playing to crowds opening for such acts as Buddy Guy, George Clinton & P-Funk, The Derek Trucks Band, The New Mastersounds, Jon Popper Project, Karl Denson, and Buckwheat Zydeco.
Entirely committed to continuing their mission, Lubriphonic is happy to be playing the music they love and winning over new fans each new night at each new city. “As a sideman one of the things you learned is how to be professional. I learned how to give to an audience, no matter what. That's what you’ll get at a Lubriphonic show.”
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Lubriphonic Bio's
Ron Haynes - trumpet
Ron Haynes was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago and studied trumpet under jazz great Donald Byrd and North Carolina Central University. He has performed and toured with acts as varied as Chaka Kahn, George Duke, The Ohio Players, Liquid Soul, and Lenny Kravitz. In addition, he has recorded with Ramsey Lewis, as well as releasing two solo jazz albums of his own. He has played trumpet on Lubriphonic’s last two albums. Ron is currently playing the role of Louis Armstrong in The Ella Fitgerald Story, which is touring the country to critical acclaim.
Giles Corey - Guitar & Vocals
Giles was born in Connecticut, but moved to Chicago at the age of 18. His first job was playing guitar for bluesman Buddy Scott. Since his arrival in town, he has performed with many blues and soul luminaries, including Syl Johnson, Otis Rush, Bo Diddley, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Eddy Clearwater, and Buddy Miles. He has toured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan, and has lent his guitar and vocals to over a dozen recordings. Along with Rick King, he is a founding member of Lubriphonic, as well as it’s primary songwriter.
photo by Barry Brecheisen
Norman Palm - Trombone
Norman was born & attended school in Chicago. He is a virtuoso trombone player & composer. When not playing with Lubriphonic Norman can be heard playing at Chicago jazz clubs almost every night.
Rick King - drums
Rick was born and raised in Chicago and is a founding member of Lubriphonic. Rick has toured the world over with many legendary grammy winning artists, including Koko Taylor, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, James Cotton, and Junior Wells. He has appeared in two feature documentary films, “History Makers” with B.B. King and “The Blues” by Martin Scorcese.
photo by John "Nunu" Zomot
Charles Prophet Jr - Sax
Charles grew up in Oak Park, a suburb of Detroit, MI. He began playing Saxophone at school in the 6th grade. At the age of 18 he visited a jazz club in the city and realized that he wanted to play music for the rest of his life. After studying privately for a few years with the great Wendell Harrison, he decided to attend Wayne State University. While doing blues, Jazz, R&B, and Gospel, he has played with many Detroit artist such as Notorious, Big Will and the 360 degree band, Joslyn B and the Detroit Street Players, and Ben Sharkey. He has also had the great pleasure to perform with the great and mighty Temptations and Four Tops.
Pennal Johnson - Bass
Pennal is a musician’s musician. Born and raised on Chicago’s West Side. Pennal is signed as a Jazz artist with RLT Music and Film works – record label and is currently working on album project with renowned record producer Rodney Trotter- Sir Nose of Parliament Funkadelics.
Currently, Pennal is the bassist for Dr. Charles G. Hayes and Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir (The Warriors) as well as a student at Columbia College majoring in Jazz and CUP (contemporary, urban, pop studies) program studies. Pennal said his whole outlook is to do what is right in God’s eye and “to enter the hearts and minds of everyone through their listening ears.”
Andrew Toombs - keyboards
Andrew graduated from Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts in 2002, and then attended the Chicago College Of Performing Arts for two years on scholarship. He concluded his music studies on scholarship in 2007 at the Berklee College of Music majoring in Professional Music. Andrew has played or performed with many artists including: Mel Torme, Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill, Roy Ayers, Ted Nash, DJ Hi-Tek, Eric Roberson, Benny Golson, Wilbert Longmire, Hal Crook, Chico DeBarge, Jason Palmer, Melvin Broach, Fred Anderson, Ohio Players, Camp Low, Dave Brubeck, Mike Smith, Tito Carrilo, Erik Monstka, Lin Biviono, Matt Ulery, Tony Royster, Joe Sanders, Juma Santos, Keith Lockhart, Steve Barnes, Stacy Dillard, Mike Wade and Bootsy Collins. We are so glad to have Andrew on team Lube!
CALVIN HOLBROOK - TOUR MYSTIC
Calvin is Lubes tour manager & tour accountant. Originally from Canada he brings years of experience managing tours across the USA. Calvin is also an accomplished musician. He loves to play in the clubs around town when he is not managing the Lubricated Circus! We could not do what we do on the road without him!
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