Tag: Funk
The Houston, Texas based trio Khruangbin (pronounced KRUNG-bin, a Thai word meaning “airplane”), featuring bassist/vocalist Laura Lee, guitarist Mark Speer, and drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson, follow-up their 2018 breakthrough release Con Todo El Mundo and recent notable collaboration with Leon Bridges (Texas Sun EP) with their highly anticipated third full-length album, titled Mordechai on the Dead Ocean label.
The Berlin-based label Matasuna Records has recently put out a pair of 7inch releases featuring two essential Latin funk gems from Nico Gomez And His Afro Percussion Inc’s “holy grail” classic Ritual.
Numero Group has unearthed and recently released what looks to be the final demo material ever recorded from the now legendary seventies-era soul group 24-Carat Black, simply titled III.
Led by drummer Malcolm Catto and bassist Jake Ferguson, the London-based cosmic-jazz-meets-psychedelic-funk ensemble The Heliocentrics have been at the forefront of some of the most forward-thinking records over the past two decades, collaborating with legendary artists like Mulatu Astatke, Lloyd Miller, Orlando Julius, Melvin Van Peebles and many others. The group has just released a great new album on groundbreaking producer Madlib’s label, Madlib Invazion.
The Leeds, UK based group led by multi-instrumentalist Pete Williams, bassist /guitarist Neil Innes and Drummer Joost Hendrickx have released a great new conceptional soundtrack album on ATA Records, titled In Search Of The Lost City Of The Monkey God.
The London-based Soul Jazz Records has released a great new compilation, titled Nigeria Soul Power 70 that highlights the influence of funk, rock and disco on the African region’s music during the 1970s.
Edinburgh’s Athens Of The North have put out a brand new double vinyl compilation titled Disco With A Feeling featuring many of the label’s most sought after 7inch reissue releases and highly obscure dancefloor gems.
Founded by Maurice White in 1969, the iconic funk and soul group Earth, Wind & Fire are considered by many as one of the greatest bands of all-time. The legendary group, that originated out of Chicago and then re-located to Southern California, has sold over 90 million records and received numerous prestigious awards, including being named to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. On a personal note, EWF was my first favorite groups when I was a young kid and has had a major influence on me ever since.
The Paris-based label WEWANTSOUNDS continues it’s ongoing collaboration with blockbuster producer, writer, director and standup comic Judd Apatow, and his sister Mia on highlighting some of greatest music to come out of Mainstream Records, a sixties and seventies era jazz-focused label run by their grandfather Bob Shab.
In 2014, the Numero Group label helped introduce the world to the Chicago-based funk group The Universal Togetherness Band with three incredible releases, including one full-length album and two 7inch singles. Just when many of us thought we’ve heard everything from this late seventies-early eighties band, the label has just put out a brand new 45rpm single featuring two previously unreleased tracks.
