Don Glori – Paper Can’t Wrap Fire: A Soulful Jazz-Funk Odyssey from Naarm to the World

Mr Bongo proudly presents the third full-length offering from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist and producer Don Glori (aka Gordon Li), entitled Paper Can’t Wrap Fire. Set for release on 16 May 2025, this album is a rich, genre-defying exploration of jazz, soul, and funk—a sonic tapestry that feels both timeless and boundary-pushing.

As the proverb-inspired title suggests, Paper Can’t Wrap Fire is built on a foundation of truth-seeking and unmasking, with Glori weaving themes of personal reflection, cultural identity, and systemic critique into a cohesive musical statement. Far from being an abstract concept, these themes come alive through intensely human storytelling and vibrant instrumentation.

From the soulful lead single “Brown Eyes” featuring ML Hall—a heartfelt reflection on minority experience and community building—to the satirical funk-infused “Disaster” and the introspective, jazz-laced “Flicker”, Don Glori’s pen is as sharp as his arrangements. His songwriting has taken center stage, steering away from the primarily instrumental jazz of his earlier releases, without abandoning the improvisational spirit at the heart of his sound.

Recorded across two sweltering summer days at Rolling Stock Studios in Collingwood, the album gathers a powerful ensemble of Glori’s longtime collaborators and touring bandmates, including Tim Cox, Al Kennedy, Joel Trigg, Robyn Cummins, and Lachlan Thompson. Vocalists ML Hall, Ruby Dargaville, Isadora Lauritz, and Bianca Kyriacou add emotional depth, while Audrey Powne’s trumpet, Joshua Moshe’s saxophone, and Alcides Neto’s Brazilian percussion magic enrich the album’s vibrant palette.

Musically, Paper Can’t Wrap Fire channels influences from the likes of Azymuth, SAULT, Jordan Rakei, and Lynda Dawn, as well as the free-spirited energy of London’s NTS Radio and Total Refreshment Centre. Yet the final product is unmistakably Don Glori: bold, heartfelt, and rooted in both community and craft.

This is not just a musical release—it’s a statement of intent. With Paper Can’t Wrap Fire, Don Glori asserts his voice not only as a bandleader and arranger, but as a truth-teller and genre-fuser, one unafraid to light the match and let the fire speak.