For nearly two decades, the world at large knew precisely where to find the acclaimed guitarist Kevin Eubanks. For five nights a week, Eubanks was cranking up the band and issuing steamy solos as music director on NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” In spring of 2010, after 18 years on the job, Eubanks decided to move on, although retirement was the last thing on his mind. That much is clearly stated in potent musical terms on Zen Food, his first recording for the Mack Avenue label. Zen Food is a statement of purpose for a guitarist who, in the 15 years before landing his coveted gig in Burbank, built a reputation as one of the more adventurous and anti-ism guitarists. In fact, Eubanks has been tending his personal musical muse for years, working on material and honing his band in Los Angeles “after work” at the famed Baked Potato. In his band, Eubanks has a powerful rhythm section ally in drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, who, like Eubanks, was a commanding presence on the music scene before heading west to the “Tonight Show” bandstand. Completing the ranks of this bold unit, which deftly combines “fusion” in the best sense with other stylistic turns, are saxophonist Bill Pierce, who holds the Woodwind Chair at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, keyboardist Gerry Etkins and bassist Rene Camacho. Zen Food evokes a sense of diversity and also collective continuity, qualities long in the making, and now ready to “hit the road” in a global way.

• Kevin Eubanks bouwde de laatste 15 jaar een reputatie op als een avontuurlijke anti-ism gitarist en is bekend van zijn vele optreden bij Jay Leno de laatste jaren
• In zijn band wordt de krachtige ritmesectie vertegenwoordigd door drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith, een veel gevraagde muzikant en bekend van de bandstand bij de “Tonight Show”
• Verder in deze fusion band: saxofonist Bill Pierce – hoofddocent houtblazers bij het prestigieuze Berklee College of Music, keyboardspeler Gerry Etkins en bassist Rene Camacho
• ‘Zen Food’ roept een gevoel van diversiteit en ook continuïteit op
  

Sein Bruder Robin Eubanks ist Posaunist und arbeitete kontinuierlich an seiner musikalischen Karriere. Der Gitarrist Kevin verdiente seine (bestimmt hochwertigen) Brötchen fast zwanzig Jahre lang als musikalischer Leiter und Musiker in Jay Leno's Night Show (die erste und erfolgreichste ihrer Art). Dort ist er im Sommer ausgeschieden, um sich wieder voll und ganz der musikalischen Seite des Lebens zu widmen.