Funkallero
Guest
|
 Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:41 am Post subject: Funky goings on... |
 |
|
The new CD release from Boston's favorite tribute to the funk of New
Orleans, the birthplace of American music is now available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HEIG6I/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music
or at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/trickbag
Meet the band:
It's always been about the groove, the pocket. You know it, and this
quartet knows it. In fact, they've all known it for a long time, even
while cutting their teeth working with various ensembles, some of them
excellent, some not so good. It's all part of the growth experience,
no regrets. Among the better gigs for these four have been the Boston
Horns, OGMF, Soul Inspiration, Chubby Checker and Frankie Avalon,
Vital Functions, Dr. Awkward, Mamadou Diop, as well as a few Broadway
and off-Broadway shows along the way.
Who knows what it takes to bring creative minds together in the right
formation? A culmination of influences and experiences, a gelling of
attitudes, personality types, a mutual love for the music of New
Orleans (and specifically of the New Orleans-born funk pioneers The
Meters), an unspoken collective realization that it's all about the
groove, the pocket. Immediately upon playing together, it was apparent
that this project would be more than a rambling jam band, and far more
than just the sum of it's parts. The time had come to cancel any other
prospective auditionees, time to put the ear to the ground, and start
playing the rhythms and harmonies of the people. Get back to people's
basic human desire to feel the rhythm, to sing along with the band, to
shake their asses, and get it in their souls.
Far from "a Meters cover band", this group consists of four unique
individuals: Mark, Mike, Dave, and Mike. (Upon hearing Dave's playing,
the other three waived the unspoken prerequisite that all band members
have a name that starts with "M"...) Each of these members brings to
the table his own unique interpretation of the New Orleans style of
funk that the group focuses on. There are Meters tunes, as well as
other staples of the New Orleans sound, along with a peppering of
originals that echo the feel-good, tight-yet-loose grooves, and the
overall improvisation. Some jazz influence here, some African
influence there, a little Miles Davis mixed with some Stevie Wonder,
maybe with a little bit of Maceo Parker sitting in with Sly & The
Family Stone added to the mix. Would Coltrane approve? How would Frank
Zappa feel about it? Would this pass the James Brown test? Mark, Mike,
Dave, and Mike, collectively known as Trick Bag would like to think
so. It is all about the groove, right?
Living for the groove, giving it up for the pocket. This is the real
thing, because, you know, these guys really give a funk about the
music. How about you? |
|
