Bassist and bandleader Ron Holmes unveils a bold new chapter with the Eclecticism Project, culminating in the release of Vibes & Tribes on February 6, 2026 via RHMedia, LLC. Known as the visionary force behind the acclaimed jazz fusion collective fo/mo/deep, Holmes now expands his sonic palette even further, assembling a dynamic 8-piece ensemble that fuses Afro-Beat, Jazz, Funk, Soul, and Groove into a high-energy, full-bodied statement of purpose.
At its core, Ron Holmes – Eclecticism is rooted in collaboration and curiosity. The music moves fluidly across stylistic boundaries, shaped by the musicians in the room and the lived experiences they bring to the stage. Holmes describes the project in simple, grounded terms: it’s about connection—making music with people and for people. Just a cat following the groove wherever it leads. That ethos animates Vibes & Tribes, a record that celebrates both individuality and collective spirit.
Holmes’ reputation for forward-thinking fusion dates back to fo/mo/deep’s formation in 2007. Over the years, the group has consistently pushed contemporary jazz and funk into new territory, earning critical praise for albums such as Syzygy (2019), The Groovy Goodness (2014), A Beautiful Bang (2012), and Eclecticism (2010). With the Eclecticism Project, Holmes builds on that legacy while embracing an even broader musical vocabulary, drawing inspiration from Afro-Beat rhythms, jazz improvisation, funk drive, and groove-centric soul textures.
Vibes & Tribes is performed by a powerful 8-piece configuration featuring a commanding horn section and Afro-Latin percussion, evoking the spirit of the great supergroups while remaining firmly rooted in the present. The sound is expansive and celebratory—music designed to move bodies as much as minds. Holmes’ bass anchors the ensemble with authority and warmth, providing both rhythmic propulsion and melodic counterpoint as the arrangements unfold.
The album’s twelve original tracks offer a wide-ranging yet cohesive journey. From the sly swagger of “Isn’t it Time (For That Cigar)” to the punchy urgency of “On My Way (With a Quickness)” and the infectious drive of “The Yaya Club (Red Sea),” the record pulses with vitality. Pieces such as “Yet, Still (Wanting You)” and “Such a Beautiful Soul” reveal a lyrical sensibility beneath the groove, while “Groove in the Air” and “What a Groovy Time” lean fully into the celebratory ethos that defines the project. Select tracks, including “Stir It Apart,” “On My Way (With a Quickness),” “The Yaya Club (Red Sea),” and “Such a Beautiful Soul,” are poised as potential singles.
Holmes’ Eclecticism Project is marked by its refusal to be boxed in. Instead, it embraces multiplicity—honoring the diasporic threads that connect Afro-Beat to funk, jazz to soul, and groove to communal ritual. The result is music that feels both deeply rooted and forward-looking, equally at home on festival stages, in jazz clubs, or blasting through summer speakers.
Based in Ohio, Holmes continues to evolve as both composer and bandleader, carrying forward the mission that has defined his career: to create music that celebrates the human spirit. Vibes & Tribes stands as the latest testament to that vision—an exhilarating sonic tapestry that invites listeners into a shared rhythmic experience.
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