For jazz saxophonist Nick Gomez, this week has been nothing short of career-defining. His fiery new jazz-funk single, “Stimulus”, dropped on Friday, the very same day that Hollywood Grit—the noir-inspired feature film for which Gomez composed the score and cowrote, produced, and arranged ten songs—opened in 22 AMC Theatres across the U.S.
The milestones arrive as Gomez also marks a personal achievement: six years of sobriety, a turning point that he says made all of these successes possible.
“‘Stimulus’ was born out of one of the most uncertain moments of my life. I made the decision to get sober in August of 2019. Six months later, the world shut down due to the pandemic… Eventually, I found my way back to music. When those stimulus checks started going out, that spark gave me the freedom to pick up my horn and write again. ‘Stimulus’ channels that spirit of joy, freedom, and gratitude into song,” Gomez explained.
Pulling inspiration from the high-energy grooves of James Brown and Motown Records, “Stimulus” is a full-throttle funk workout. Gomez’s tenor saxophone leads the charge, but each member of his quartet—Jon Gus (guitar), Steve Aguilar (Hammond B3), Russell Walters (bass), and Joshua Zeigler (drums)—gets their moment to shine. Trumpeter Chris Lawrence adds brass firepower to the mix.
The single already began collecting radio playlist adds this week and is accompanied by a vibrant music video, filmed at Total Access Studios in Redondo Beach, now streaming on YouTube: Watch “Stimulus” here.
Meanwhile, Gomez’s work on Hollywood Grit is equally ambitious. The saxophonist composed sixty minutes of original music for the film, collaborating closely with director Ryan Curtis (a creative partner since 2014). The soundtrack blends big band, straight-ahead, contemporary, orchestral, avant-garde, and free jazz with flashes of R&B, pop, and funk. The result is a rich sonic palette that plays as much of a starring role as the actors, who include Max Martini, Tyrese Gibson, Linda Purl, and Patrick Duffy.
Both the soundtrack (listen here) and film score (listen here) are available now.
Next up, Gomez will kick off a three-month residency at the Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach starting October 12, performing one show each month.
An eight-time Emmy Award nominee, Gomez has long been a creative force in both the music and entertainment worlds. But with “Stimulus” and Hollywood Grit, 2025 may mark his boldest leap forward yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment