Special to the Courier-Post Jimi Chiara of Oaklyn (from left), Joe Brady of Somerdale, Mike Cunningham of Laurel Springs, Dom Clark of Blackwood, Ed Clark of Deptford and Dustin Blackshear of Laurel Springs make up the local jam band Bohemian Sunrise.

Local jam band Bohemian Sunrise are genre-jumpers, mixing rock, world, jazz and funk. For this six-piece group, the eclectic blend of style has earned them a large, loyal following.

Trying to push their careers to the next level, Bohemian Sunrise has released a new album called Intoxicating.

The band will release the album independently to sell at concerts, at local record stores and online. To celebrate its release, the band hosted a record release party at The Fire in Philadelphia on July 12.

"We're going to play new and old songs and two covers, too. We're trying to make it special," said guitarist Ed Clark, 27, from Deptford, during an interview at a coffeehouse prior to the event.

The band recorded Intoxicating live in front of 200 fans in Indre Recording Studios in Philadelphia.

"It was cheaper to do it in one shot," said Clark.

"Plus, it shows our chops are there," said guitarist Joe Brady, 27, from Somerdale, about the band's playing ability.

Bohemian Sunrise crafts long, multilayered song - JaPong" is 9 minutes long - with the musicians playing improvisational solos. The album highlights each musician's skills, especially on instrumental tracks like "City Soul Reflections" and "Apu the Pimp."

All of the musicians met at Sterling High School, Somerdale, and and reside in South Jersey.

In addition to Clark and Brady, the band is rounded out by singer and keyboard player Jimi Chiara, 23, of Oaklyn; percussionist Mike Cunningham, 24, of Laurel Springs; singer and bassist Dustin Blackshear, 26, of Laurel Springs; and Ed Clark's brother, Dom, 25, of Blackwood on drums. Intoxicating features a guest saxophone player Fred Pasqua on a few numbers. Deptford's Maria Pinardo is the band's manager.

Ed Clark is thrilled with the response from the jam band community, the same fans that supported Dave Matthews, Phish, and Rusted Root and brought those bands to fame. Bohemian Sunrise puts on a number of successful self-produced shows.

"Having a home-grown music network gives us more leeway with our career," said Clark.

The band's immediate goals are to expand its local fan base, get the attention of concert promoters, and maybe radio stations, too. In the past, the band has hired buses to transport South Jersey fans to Philadelphia shows. To advertise Bohemian Sunrise shows, the members hand out fliers at concerts by other jam bands.

"It's like a big bubble. If we all push on all sides, it's bound to burst," said Clark, of making it big.

Although the members must work day jobs to pay the bills, the musicians rehearse four or five times each week and treat Bohemian Sunrise as their vocation. They formed the band in 1999 and released their first independent album in September, 2000 called Soultice.

Clark and Brady said the members are influenced by Miles Davis, Santana, Pearl Jam, world music, jazz, bluegrass and funk.

"I feel very strongly that Bohemian Sunrise is going somewhere," said Gladys "Mom" Glass, owner of Woodstock Trading Company in Cherry Hill. "They are some of my favorite people."

"With Bohemian Sunrise, they want to maintain control of their destiny. they are trying to maintain their sense of self in their careers. I give them a lot of credit," said Glass.

Woodstock Trading Co. sells Bohemian Sunrise merchandise and hosted the band for a few concerts at the store.

"I think they are definitely star material, I see and hear a lot of music and I think they are going to make it," said Glass, who predicted the rise of another popular jam band, Disco Biscuits. "They have worked very hard on their craft and they are very good to their fans."

Glass said the store will host another record release party in the future because she said she feels responsible for introducing the community to new music, plus "I am happy to support this band."

Guitarist Brady said, "We just want to get the music out there to the people."

"Our immediate goal is to push this album by making noise in our area," said Clark. "It's a slower process but we learn as we go."