Monkey House

Websites:  http://www.almarecords.com/artists/monkey-house/, https://www.monkeyhouseofficial.com/
Origin: Toronto, Ontario
Biography:

Monkey House began in the nineties as an outlet for songs Don Breithaupt thought were “a bit too quirky or jazzy” for the pop and R&B artists he was pitching at the time. An acclaimed debut album and a string of high-performing AC singles followed, and Monkey House became a going concern, with solid followings in Canada, U.S., Europe, Japan and elsewhere.

Over the years, the Toronto-based project became a quartet: Breithaupt on lead vocals and keyboards; Mark Kelso on drums; Pat Kilbride on bass; Justin Abedin on guitar. Today, that line-up continues to be supplemented by high-calibre rock and jazz guest stars, including Jay Graydon, The Manhattan Transfer, Mark Lettieri, Elliott Randall, Michael Leonhart, Drew Zingg, Donny McCaslin, Kim Mitchell, Marc Jordan, Lucy Woodward, David Blamires and Richie Hayward.

In the decades-long history of the band, founder Don Breithaupt (now L.A.-based) has won an Emmy Award, three SOCAN Awards, and has twice placed first in the USA Songwriting Competition. Monkey House has been an ALMA Records artist since 2012’s Headquarters. The new album, Friday, debuted at #1 on the iTunes jazz chart and #11 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

“Monkey House’s Don Breithaupt is one of a very few guys who really get the melodic pop thing . . . David Foster, Michael Omartian, Randy Goodrum — it’s a very special category.”
Jay Graydon, Grammy-winning producer

“I love Monkey House. Every instinct these guys have is right . . . Friday’s arrangements and performances are first-rate as usual”
Michael Omartian, Grammy-winning producer

“Monkey House is akin to the finest Steely Dan . . . great music, lyrics and playing”
Elliott Randall, former Steely Dan guitarist

“What a band . . . ferocious technicians with a beautiful melodic approach”
Linley Hamilton, BBC Radio

“A stunning album, a stone classic . . . ever-so-clever turnarounds, knuckle-knotting chord progressions and majestic horn charts”
Barney Hurley, West Coast