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Skunk Funk 4:100:00/4:10
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Begetting 3:580:00/3:58
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Wake Up 5:250:00/5:25
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With You 5:120:00/5:12
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Everybody Knows 6:020:00/6:02
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Oath Keeper 6:190:00/6:19
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The Only One 8:030:00/8:03
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Voyage Maid 6:160:00/6:16
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0:00/5:13
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0:00/7:19
Chris Mondak's newest CD BLANK WITH COLOUR was released in 2023 by Summit Records. The CD immediately was named one of the most added CDs on radio by both Jazz Week and NACC, and it went on to spend nine weeks in the top 100 of the Jazz Week chart, twice reaching #61. Beginning in February 2024 it also spent several weeks in the Top 100 of Jazz Week's 13-week chart, meaning it was one of the most-played CDs on jazz radio in the past three months. The ten jazz-funk tracks include eight of Chris's original compositions, plus covers of "Cruel to Be Kind" and "Affirmation." The CD was recorded on analog at Nashville's Welcome to 1979 studio, and features Dan Hitchcock (sax), Gabe Feldman (keys), Jack Macklin (guitar) and Ryan Brasley (drums).
Recorded at Nashville's Sound Emporium studio, Glass Spheres features seven of Chris's original tunes, with dashes of swing, second line, and jazz-pop. Joining Chris (bass) are Hunter Smith (sax), Gabe Feldman (piano), LIndon McCarty (guitar), and Chris Broomhead (Drums).
Glass Spheres was released by Summit Records on April 15, 2022. Glass Spheres spent four weeks in the top 100 of the national Jazz Week chart, and reached #17 on the NACC jazz radio chart for college and community stations.
Glass Spheres can be streamed on most platforms by clicking on the album cover to the left.
Praise for Glass Spheres
The 24-year-old Venezuelan-born bassist and composer Chris Mondak presents his latest recording of exciting new jazz on the varied Glass Spheres, offering an intriguing and absorbing selection of originals that explores a range of styles from swing, pop and bebop to avant-garde...One of the talented young lions of the jazz world today, Mondak's diverse compositions on Glass Spheres makes for an engaging musical experience. ~ All About Jazz (Edward Blanco)
CHRIS MONDAK/Glass Spheres: Born in Venezuela, educated by Dave Holland and now living in Nashville, the still wet behind the ears jazzbo knows how to swing and groove and move things along with the best of them. A tasty outing that seems to have been made for laid back evenings with adulterated coffee drinks at hand, it's amazing how a 24 year old can have deep enough chops that you feel like an adult just for listening. Catch a rising star, now. (Summit 792) ~ Midwest Record
(Chris Mondak) steps out as leader of an impressive young quintet, venturing assuredly over Mondak’s well-crafted compositions...Glass Spheres was recorded in a single day in Nashville, old-school style, and has an infectious and organic live feel without additives. ~ DownBeat (Josef Woodard)
With Glass Spheres, Mondak shows his skills not only as a musician but as a composer as well...Each of the musicians is in top form, and they clearly seem to be enjoying themselves here. The entire album was recorded in one day, so there is a definite sense of spontaneity. There is an obvious chemistry in the band, and these guys can cook...The level of musicianship is impressive...Glass Spheres epitomizes coolness. Each of the players is in their element here, and they seem to be having a good time. It's easy for a listener to pick up on that vibe and get in on the fun. ~ All About Jazz (Kyle Simpler).
Twenty-four-year-old Chris Mondak is just a few years removed graduating from the New England Conservatory and the bassist is wasting little time flexing his skills as a bassist, composer and bandleader. For Glass Spheres he assembles a quintet comprised of old Conservatory classmates – plus an alum from the equally prestigious University of North Texas – and made a record that applies youthful exuberance to jazz traditions...Mondak accurately sees ‘tradition’ not as a monolithic style but a number of historical sub-genres that are diverse and are truly representative of jazz only collectively. He obviously knows this because Glass Spheres is a menagerie of jazz’s different shades, from bop to avant-garde, with everything in-between...He saves the most festive slice of jazz for last..."Hats Off" is that riotously fun New Orleans second line jaunt that dares you to keep your body from swaying to it. Everyone gets in on the action: saxophonist Hunter Smith, then keyboard man Gabe Feldman, followed by guitarist Lindon McCarty get their spicy licks in before Chris Mondak and drummer Chris Broomhead dig deep into that Mardi Gras groove. ~ Something Else!
Swing pulsed bassist Chris Mondak leads a deft team of Hunter Smith/sax, Gabe Feldman/piano, Lindon McCarty/guitar and Chris Broomhead/drums through a collection of bopping originals. Mondak sets the pace on his soft intro for “In Sleep” that links in suavely with Broomhead before Smith’s tenor agonizes to the climax, while his nimble fingers cut out a groove for McCarty’s electric Coryell-styled tone on the snappy “Oath Keeper”. Smith has a beefy, full bodied sound for the muscular “Low” and does some fun yackety sax work during “Hat’s Off”. Feldman taps into his inner Red Garland for an uptown, Tin Pan Alley styled “Juicy Red” with the team following McCarty’s lead on a bluesy country western’d “The Only One”. The team has a healthy foot in the tradition of alluring tone and tempo, but also with a mischievous sense of playfulness, keeping the tunes and deliveries fresh. Give this one a try! ~ Jazz Weekly
At just 24 years old, the bassist and composer Chris Mondak embraces the time honored traditions of jazz’s rich past across these 7 well thought out tracks...A listen that’s full of bebop, second line, avant-garde, swing and pop moments, fans of jazz, past and present, won’t be disappointed with this youngster’s inimitable talent. ~ Take Effect
Chris Mondak (bass), Hunter Smith (Sax), Gabe Feldman (piano), Lindon McCarty (guitar), and Chris Broomhead (drums) present Glass Spheres, an original combo jazz album that explores musical influences ranging from swing and bebop to avant-garde and pop. Adventurous, inspirational, and thoroughly immersive, Glass Spheres is a "must-have" for jazz connoisseurs, an enrichment to public library music collections, and also highly recommended as an excellent gift. ~ Midwest Book Review
Chris Mondak leads a jazz ensemble as an upright bassist. The position within the quintet he helms leads to spirited interplay on Glass Spheres, the Venezuela-born, Tennessee-residing Mondak's second long-player. Never ostentatious, even on his rare solos, Mondak nevertheless propels the saxophonist, guitarist, pianist and drummer sharing the studio with him to tuneful, impassioned animation throughout seven selections. Spheres’ septet of tracks encompasses (and commences with) straight ahead classicist bop, but the group broaches funk-imbued soul jazz and miasmic free jazz and wraps up in a second-line workout with a dash of rockabilly that it’s easy to imagine soundtracking a New Orleans parade and/or funeral. Mondak’s flex at encompassing such a stylistic gamut his second time out bodes well for his future development. ~ Shepherd Express.
Chris Mondak is a bassist/composer who was born in Venezuela, studied music at the New England Conservatory and now works out of Nashville. Glass Spheres finds Mondak making music with Hunter Smith (saxophone), Gabe Feldman (piano), Lindon McCarty (guitar) and Chris Broomhead (drums). Oath Keeper stands out for its groovy bassline and a blistering guitar solo by McCarty, with just enough grit on his tone to make it snarl a bit. Other highlights include In Sleep, Brume, Hats Off and the bluesy groove of The Only One, where Hunter Smith lights it up on saxophone, Feldman shimmers on piano and McCarty delivers some stinging and nimble guitar lines. ~ The Belleville Intelligencer (Canada)
Released May 1, 2019
Featuring eight of Chris Mondak's original compositions, Eternal Youth (2019) captures the spirit and energy of jazz in the 21st century. In addition to Chris on bass, Eternal Youth includes performances by some of Boston's top young jazz musicians, including Matt Kelly (trumpet), Haoran Li (trombone), Solomon Alber (sax), Federico Nuti (piano), Carlos Heredia (guitar), and Gavin Connolly (drums). Eternal Youth is available on all major online streaming and download platforms: