Promoting the spirit of unity, diversity, and equality, Hemisphere features openly gay members Rob Shinno (guitar, vocoder) and Don Bowman (vocals, sax), as well as Mike McQuilken (drums), Nathan Brown (bass), and Max Zape (keys). The band draws on rock, pop, jazz, fusion, and metal for inspiration and has played at prestigious events such as the Newport Beach Jazz Festival. Tracks from their new album American Dreams, nominated Best World Music Album at the San Diego Music Awards, have scored over 400,000 YouTube views and streams since the October 2020 release date. It includes guest players such as Grammy winning drummer and percussionist Tommy Aros(Fattburger), singers Rebecca Jade (2020 SDMA Artist of the Year) and Leonard Patton, trumpeter Derek Cannon, and a guitar solo from Patrick Yandall. Local jazz star Peter Sprague served as engineer and mixer, and the album was mastered by Bernie Grundman (Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Prince). A video is streaming online for the album track “America,” shot during the pandemic lockdown using social distance precautions, and an American Dreams collector’s CD edition is available with a 16 page pamphlet of liner notes, images, and lyrics. The band recently booked three nights at the 2022 South By Southwest music festival. Their album release party happens at Humphreys Backstage on October 2, for a bill that includes the Grant Clarkston Trio and Wolftrane.
