Liquid Soul

Formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1993, Liquid Soul is a band that combines jazz, hip hop, funk, and freestyle fusion band best known for spearheading the acid jazz movement in the US. Founded by saxophonist Mars Williams – best known for his work with 1980s bands The Waitresses and Psychedelic Furs – the group also included co-founders DJ Jesse De La Peńa and guitarist Tommy Klein (Spies Who Surf). The line-up of the band would fluctuate throughout the years and would feature standard instrumentalists (including bassists, drummers, trumpeters, trombonists, and percussionists) as well as DJs, MCs, and vocalists. The group began their career by performing at local Chicago venues including the Elbo Room, which became one of their more regular live outlets. They became a popular live attraction and released their self-titled debut album in 1996. They moved their live show to the Double Door, a venue located in Wicker Park, and regularly performed there for the next several years. After performing at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1997, Liquid Soul released their second album, Make Some Noise, the following year, and took their live show on the road. They toured across the US and Canada and also played overseas in countries such as Japan, Germany, and Turkey. The band toured with Sting, Isaac Hayes, and other high-profile artists. Over the years, Liquid Soul played all the top festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival, the Cancun Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival, and many others. They released several more albums including Here’s the Deal (2000), Evolution (2002), and One-Two Punch (2006). After a 15 year wait, the group issued a compilation called Lost Soul, Vol. 1 in 2021. Founder member Mars Williams was diagnosed with periampullary cancer in 2022 and died on November 20, 2023, at the age of 68. The surviving members of Liquid Soul performed at a Mars Williams tribute show on November 25, 2023, at the Metro Chicago.

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