Umbo Gumbo writes, produces, mixes and masters songs for artists at every level. Producer and songwriter Dave G and Polo Jones, bassist and music director for Zucchero, run it out of Music Power Studio.
Quincy Jones believed every great production needs ear candy: the little sounds and moments that make a listener's ears light up. Our name is ear candy, spelled out with a piece of the ear and a dish full of good things.
The center point of your eardrum, where it meets the hammer bone. It is where sound turns into something you feel.
A rich stew where every ingredient counts. We mix genres, players, and vintage and modern gear the same way.
A production cooked for the ear. We are a music company. We don't serve food, but we do take orders.
A lot of our clients start with a song made by AI. It has the idea, but it doesn't have the feel. We swap the stiff parts for real players, real grooves and real vocals, so it sounds like people made it. Because people did.
From modern country to house to jazz fusion. Like what you hear? Hire us on AirGigs.
“I would give him lyrics and he would have a full demo ready in 2 days whereas other producers would take 2 weeks.”
“Their songs have that hook that gets people singing or humming my song without knowing it.”
“Working with Dave so greatly exceeded my expectations that I was totally blown away by his deep expertise and the quality and timeliness of his work.”
“These two are some of the most talented musicians in the business. If you have a chance to work with them, jump at that opportunity.”
On AirGigs, tap the ★★★★★ tab to open the reviews.
A multi-instrumentalist on guitars, keyboards and bass. Dave played guitar in Pillars of Jeleaux and Jen X, worked with Bay Area legend Kevin Gilbert, and has owned and run the hybrid analog/digital Music Power Studio for over 25 years. He also builds his own music software.
Polo went on tour with blues legend John Lee Hooker at 14 and has played rock, funk, jazz and blues around the world ever since. On larger Umbo Gumbo projects, Polo can bring in musicians you'll recognize.
Dave's wife Jennifer is an accomplished vocalist with a distinctive sound all her own. She can go warm and soulful or edgy and full-on rock, whatever the song calls for. Listen closely to our songs. That's her on some of the tracks!
Carlos Santana ● Ray Charles ● Eric Clapton ● Miles Davis ● Sting ● Pavarotti ● Bruce Springsteen ● Bill Withers ● Duran Duran ● The Doobie Brothers ● Larry Graham ● Levon Helm ● Tower of Power horns ● Zucchero
Vintage and digital recording tools under one roof, with a live drum room and a Hammond organ ready to go.
Every project follows the same seven steps, whether you show up with a hook you hummed into your phone or a finished set of lyrics.
A free first conversation about the song, the sound you hear in your head, reference tracks, budget and timeline.
Bring a voice memo, a melody, a few lines or a complete lyric sheet. Any starting point works.
We sketch the arrangement, groove and chords so you can hear where the song is headed early on.
Real players, drums that sound like a drummer, and finished vocal tracks replace the sketch.
Every part balanced and shaped at Music Power, with the ear candy in all the right places.
You listen, we tweak. Nothing moves on until you love it.
Final masters ready for streaming, radio and sync, delivered in the formats you need.
Dave writes tools for the problems he runs into in the studio. The biggest one is still under wraps.
A state-of-the-art music app taking shape at Music Power. We're keeping the details close for now. Let's just say it listens the way a producer does, and it may change how you think about making a record.
Programming drums that sound like a real player is our specialty: the ghost notes, the push and pull, the feel of a drummer in the room. Prefer live drums? Sam the Drummer records them at Music Power.
A special song
Written and produced by Dave G for the survivors, and for anyone who needs inspiration.
Send us your idea on AirGigs. We reply within a day, and the first consultation is free.
