Welcome To The Kung Pao Kitchen

In 2007, Nu Shooz reformed as Nu Shooz Orchestra, adding a string section to our horn-based sound while replacing the chirping synthesizers with upright bass and vibes. With the brand new band came a brand new sound, and the Nu Shooz Orchestra released an album entitled Pandora’s Box. The music showcased on that album was based on ‘30s Jungle movies and ‘60s spy music, inspiring Valerie to dub the new sound “pop-jazz-cinema.”

Many of our ‘80s fans were baffled. Where were the sing-along hooks and the bright, cheerful synth lines? For those who want to know what happened after “Should I Say Yes,” Nu Shooz is proud to present ‘Kung Pao Kitchen’ — a collection of songs from the 80’s that have never seen the light of day. The best of these songs, written between 1988 and 1992, feature guest appearances by James Brown veteran Maceo Parker, and longtime Shooz collaborator Jeff Lorber.

For the past 3 months, we’ve been dusting off these previously un-vaulted tracks and re-mastering them for the masses. While you’ll have to wait until July 31 for the full-length record, we thought we’d share a bit of our creative process in the meantime. We hope you enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek into our studio space…