" Cornelius Bumpus' lifelong pursuit of the saxophone and his eagerness for diversity found him sharing worldwide stages and studio time with some of the greatest names in pop/rock history # The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs # as well as top names in jazz fusion (Jeff Lorber) and country music (Lacy J. Dalton). Folks in his adopted home of New York, however, were just as likely to see him playing nightclubs, weddings, even in subways when the muse hit him # it was all part of his amazing, people-pleasing love affair with the horn and a desire to constantly improve his craft.

When The Doobies broke up in 1982, Cornelius ventured into solo territory with A Clear View (1982) and Beacon (1983). His Palmetto Records debut, Known Fact, marked a long awaited return and his first splash into the world of smooth jazz. The music on the collection grew out of demo sessions Bumpus did with some of his old cohorts when Boz Scaggs--whom Bumpus toured with last year--offered him some free studio time in San Francisco. "A lot of sideman play their gigs just hoping for a big opportunity to become a star, but I've always been comfortably playing in a band setting," says the Dallas native who grew up in Santa Cruz, California. "This just seemed like a right time to record some original material, and (producer and Palmetto owner) Matt Balitsaris saw the potential in the original six songs. We re-recorded those and added a few cool cover tunes, including songs by the Doobies and Steely Dan." "The project is a strong representation of every type of music I grew up listening to and have made a part of my professional career, from R&B to jazz to blues to Latin to rock," he added. "In fact, when I play rock, it's always with a jazz and soul vibe to it. To me, those styles are inseparable. The songs on the album speak a lot to my sense of excitement and musical adventure. I've based my career on a commitment to exploring uncharted waters, and Known Fact takes me to new places while also revisiting cherished memories of the past."
-from the Palmetto Records website