Review: John Rabbit Bundrick – Mr. Big Boss Man
John “Rabbit” Bundrick – Mr. Big Boss Man
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Suburban Records
Release: 2026
Text: Tom Wouters
The American keyboards player John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick earned a reputation as a session musician through his studio (and live) work for Free. He played an important role on their last studio album ‘Heartbreaker.’ In the eighties and nineties he was a member of the touring band of The Who. Other connections Bundrick had were with American singer Johnny Nash, Eric Burdon, Bob Marley, Roger Waters and Snowy White. ‘Mr. Big Boss Man’ is announced as his last solo album (yes, we’re getting old!), remarkably enough at the same moment fore-mentioned Snowy White is doing the same.
On ‘Mr. Big Boss Man Bundrick’ collaborates heavily with ex-Snowy White drummer and producer Juan van Emmerloot. Bundrick gave Van Emmerloot the complete freedom to select material from his entire compositional catalogue. This resulted in an album full of soul, funk and rock songs dominated by the excellent interplay between Bundrick’s keys and the other musicians, which were chosen by Van Emmerloot, including himself on drums.
What The Man Has To Say is the soulful opener with the splendid rock guitar of Geoff Whitehorn, Bundrick’s bandmate from (Back Street) Crawler days. It is followed by the funky NKosi B, written by Bundrick and Van Emmerloot, and with vocals of ex-Osibisa singer Gregg Kofi Brown. And then there is the first highlight of the album with the rock burner Asylum, co-written and sung by ex-Savoy Brown and ex-Cactus singer Jimmy Kunes and with Age Kat on lead guitar. It is followed by the rocky sound of Mr. Big Boss Man, the funky instrumental Grownups and the soulful Living On A Level. Africa ’25 is funk/rock featuring percussionist Jeroen de Rijk. The second highlight of the album is Bundrick’s own Hole In My Head that starts with a proggy keys intro that transitions in a beautiful ballad, featuring Age Kat on guitars. After that the album closes down with two funky songs (Funky James and Salty Popcorn) and the poppy Send Your Love.
Bundrick’s swan song shows us once more the enormous talents and taste of one of rock music’s best keyboard players, who left a unique mark on classic rock.
Tracks:
01. What The Man Has To Say (feat. Gregg Kofi Brown & Leslie Smith)
02. Nkosi B (feat. Gregg Kofi Brown)
03. Asylum (feat. Jimmy Yunes)
04. Mr. Big Boss Man (feat. Jay Fleming)
05. Grownups (feat. Ben Rodenburg)
06. Living On A Level (feat. Gregg Kofi Brown)
07. Africa ’25 (feat. Damian Corlazzoli)
08. Hole In My Head (feat. Jamie Bruhn)
09. Funky James (feat. Andreas Suntrop)
10. Salty Popcorn (feat. Ben Rodenburg)
11. Send Your Love (feat. Eddie Baird)
Website: https://www.rabbitwho.com/index.php