Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top Releases Solo Album

ZZ Top guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons has released his first solo album, Perfectamundo, as Billy Gibbons and The BFG’s.

Gibbons co-produced the record of Afro-Cuban tinged blues rock with Joe Hardy (who also contributes some bass). Houston, Texas vocalist/bassist Alex Garza also appears on the record inspired by an invitation to play the 2014 Havana Jazz Festival that Gibbons was unable to accept.

Although he’s long known for the special brand of blues rock that got ZZ Top into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Gibbons’ Latin cred goes way back — his bandleader dad was a friend of “Mambo King” Tito Puente, who taught Billy some Latin rhythms on congas, bongos, maracas and timbales. “Banging away on ‘em came back like riding on a lost bicycle,” Gibbons said as he talked about the new album, which the group recorded in Houston, Los Angeles, Austin and Pontevedra, Spain.

Here’s the sound. Check out “Got Love If You Want It”:

And, check out more about how the album came together:

Perfectamundo is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download (iTunes and Amazon MP3).

Perfectamundo Track List:

1. Got Love If You Want It
2. Treat Her Right
3. You’re What’s Happenin’, Baby
4. Sal Y Pimiento
5. Pickin’ Up Chicks On Dowling Street
6. Hombre Sin Nombre
7. Quiero Mas Dinero
8. Baby Please Don’t Go
9. Piedras Negras
10. Perfectamundo
11. Q-Vo