Paper Can't Wrap Fire

Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Mr Bongo
Release Date: 16th May

Mate, Don Glori is mindblowingly good at the jazz, funk and soul. You can tell he's a next level talent, probably could master Herbie Hancock's back catalogue at 13 but he's not one of these all technique no tunes, all flash no charm, all skill no killer - the Don makes albums that Herbie Hancock would want to master. 

Mr Bongo proudly presents the third album by Melbourne/Naarm multi-
instrumentalist, Don Glori, entitled 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire'
A kaleidoscopic genre- surfing odyssey that brings together the worlds of jazz, soul
and funk. Feeling both contemporary and classic, familiar yet novel, it's an assured
third release that sees an artist in full flight, showcasing their creative prowess and
the uniqueness of their musical voice.
Steering in a new direction, Don Glori (aka Gordon Li) has delved headfirst into his
songwriting with 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire'. Deftly showcasing his talents as a writer and
bandleader, he brings with him a whole host of friends from the creative crossroads
that is Naarm. It's an album enriched with more soul, R&B, and funk-oriented songs
than his previous jazz-rooted productions, yet there's still plenty of jazz material for
those familiar fans of Don's earlier works.
The album's title is an old Chinese proverb, roughly translated as 'you can't deny the
truth'. This underlying thread is woven between the songs. "A lot of them are in some
way about truth- seeking, observations and the masks you put on to deal with life
(hence the cover art)", Don mentions. Take, for instance, the sensational soul single
'Brown Eyes' featuring silky lead vocals by ML Hall. A dissection of the minority
experience, and the power and comfort in building those communities. Elsewhere,
'Disaster' is a satirical take on the structures serving everyone but the artists, and
'Flicker' tackles notations of truth and clarity after introspection. To marry that
meaning with the level of musicianship on these tracks is what really stands out. Don
has set out his stall here as an artist who can write songs that hit home in the heart,
as much as they do in the head.
It's a journey infused with a glistening jazz finesse, layered with nourishing vocal
harmonies and powered by an instantly relatable human soul. Recorded over two hot
summer days in Rolling Stock Studios in Collingwood, Naarm, the lineup of musicians
is built up of Don's friends and family. Featuring the backbone team of Tim Cox, Al
Kennedy, Joel Trigg, Robyn Cummins and Lachlan Thompson, who were part of Don's
touring band before he relocated to London, and a stunning selection of vocalists in
the form of ML Hall, Ruby Dargaville, Isadora Lauritz, and Bianca Kyriacou. Also
gracing the album are trumpeter extraordinaire Audrey Powne, saxophonist Joshua
Moshe, and Alcides Neto who sprinkles some Brazilian magic into the record.
Taking influence from artists including Azymuth, SAULT, Jordan Rakei and Lynda
Dawn, as well as from London musical beacons such as NTS and Total Refreshment
Centre, Don has run with this, leaned in and come out with a record truly unique to
himself and his distinctive core, with no mask necessary.