Deep Funk — All Formats  

A contemporary set, but one that sparkles with all the best brilliance of the 70s scene in Brazil – and that includes such heady company as Marcos Valle, Azymuth, and Joao Donato! As with all those artists at the time, Lucas Arruda has a groove that's strongly based on Fender Rhodes – warm keys that are underscored with some great acoustic percussion that gives the whole thing an earthy core at the bottom, and a vibe that's quite different than any American fusion of the time! The music is completely sublime throughout – very jazzy in its inflections, but also with a more freewheeling approach – as you'd hear on classic keys from Jose Roberto Bertrami. The set's got a bit of vocals, but really focuses on the keyboards – and titles include "Physis", "Rio Afternoon", "Batuque", "Alma Nova", "Sambadi", "Carnival", and a sweet cover of "Who's That Lady".

A contemporary set, but one that sparkles with all the best brilliance of the 70s scene in Brazil – and that includes such heady company as Marcos Valle, Azymuth, and Joao Donato! As with all those artists at the time, Lucas Arruda has a groove that's strongly based on Fender Rhodes – warm keys that are underscored with some great acoustic percussion that gives the whole thing an earthy core at the bottom, and a vibe that's quite different than any American fusion of the time! The music is completely sublime throughout – very jazzy in its inflections, but also with a more freewheeling approach – as you'd hear on classic keys from Jose Roberto Bertrami. The set's got a bit of vocals, but really focuses on the keyboards – and titles include "Physis", "Rio Afternoon", "Batuque", "Alma Nova", "Sambadi", "Carnival", and a sweet cover of "Who's That Lady".

A contemporary album, but one that feels like some lost Euro fusion gem from the end of the 70s – a wonderfully old school session from Finnish reedman Andre Solomko – cut in a real back to basics style! The group here is super-tight, but never slick at all – balanced wonderfully between their own sharp instrumental skills and the need to come together in a groove – all in a style that's somewhere between the American fusion underground of the late 70s, and some of the funky electric work from Germany and Scandinavia in the early 80s. Instrumentation includes loads of great keyboards next to Andre's alto, flute, and soprano sax – and although there's a bit of vocals on the record, there's also an equal focus on strong instrumental solos too. Titles include "Summer 77", "Grooving With Grover In Paradise", "I Recall", "We Had Some Good Years Together", and "Ou Es Tu Maintenant".

Damn amazing work from Charles Bradley – an instant soul classic for all generations, as you'll hear from the very first note! Not only are Bradley's vocals incredible – the kind of once-in-a-long-time approach he brought to his debut – but the backings and production are completely sublime too – magical music from the Menahan Street Band, who sound here like some lost combo from 60s Memphis, but without any of the hoke that reference might imply – instead that really unique approach that you'd only find on one of your few favorite vintage soul albums – maybe Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, or Jesse James on his 60s album for 20th Century! Yet the sound here isn't just vintage for vintage sake, either – as there's an intensity that's very present, contemporary, and urgent – a sound that doesn't die – and which just gets better and better with each new listen. Tremendous stuff – even from the Daptone universe we've been loving for years and years – with titles that include "Strictly Reserved For You", "You Put The Flame On It", "Dusty Blue", "Love Bug Blues", "Hurricane", "Through The Storm", "Confusion", and "Where Do We Go From Here".

Damn amazing work from Charles Bradley – an instant soul classic for all generations, as you'll hear from the very first note! Not only are Bradley's vocals incredible – the kind of once-in-a-long-time approach he brought to his debut – but the backings and production are completely sublime too – magical music from the Menahan Street Band, who sound here like some lost combo from 60s Memphis, but without any of the hoke that reference might imply – instead that really unique approach that you'd only find on one of your few favorite vintage soul albums – maybe Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, or Jesse James on his 60s album for 20th Century! Yet the sound here isn't just vintage for vintage sake, either – as there's an intensity that's very present, contemporary, and urgent – a sound that doesn't die – and which just gets better and better with each new listen. Tremendous stuff – even from the Daptone universe we've been loving for years and years – with titles that include "Strictly Reserved For You", "You Put The Flame On It", "Dusty Blue", "Love Bug Blues", "Hurricane", "Through The Storm", "Confusion", and "Where Do We Go From Here".

The first album in years from this favorite Brazilian funk combo – and less of a straight album than a collection of different recordings from all the time we haven't heard from them! Funk Como Le Gusta are tighter than ever – still strongly inspired by American funk and soul, and able to fuse it into a groove that's slightly contemporary – but way better than the usual mainstream R&B from Brazil! There's a lean quality here on most of the tracks – instrumentation that's still mostly live, and definitely linked to the contemporary deep funk underground at points – while getting even bolder production at others. Titles include "Balacobaco", "Sweet Ronie Song", "Putz", "Muchacha Fantastica", "Ire", and "Preludio Do Sol".

There's almost no introduction needed to the New Mastersounds – given how much greatness the group has given us over the years – a perennial favorite here at Dusty Groove, both with customers and our own soundsystems as well! But even if you know these funky stalwarts, there's still plenty here to love – as the collection does a good job of bringing together some harder-to-find cuts – work the group has done with other artists over the past decade or so – and some singles and compilation tracks that are hard to find too – great stuff to track down if you missed the original releases! As usual, the guitar of Eddie Roberts smokes the grooves brilliantly – as does the organ, bass, and drums – and titles include "Kuna Matata", "Make Me Proud", "One Note Brown (original version)", "Can You Get It (rmx)", "I Mean It So", "King Comforter", "Talk The Talk", "Bring It On", "You Got It All", and "Wack".

There's almost no introduction needed to the New Mastersounds – given how much greatness the group has given us over the years – a perennial favorite here at Dusty Groove, both with customers and our own soundsystems as well! But even if you know these funky stalwarts, there's still plenty here to love – as the collection does a good job of bringing together some harder-to-find cuts – work the group has done with other artists over the past decade or so – and some singles and compilation tracks that are hard to find too – great stuff to track down if you missed the original releases! As usual, the guitar of Eddie Roberts smokes the grooves brilliantly – as does the organ, bass, and drums – and titles include "Kuna Matata", "Make Me Proud", "One Note Brown (original version)", "Can You Get It (rmx)", "I Mean It So", "King Comforter", "Talk The Talk", "Bring It On", "You Got It All", and "Wack".

A gritty, genuinely soulful debut from the team of Miles Bonny and beatmaker Brenk Sinatra – and one of the best underground soul-skewing full lengths yet from Mr. Bonny and Melting Pot! With the exception of some guitar, S3 is a 2-man operation – Brenk on the beats and Bonny on vocals and fluegelhorn. It's got a stripped to the essentials vibe that reminds us of some of favorite sounds of classic hip hop soul. Really strong stuff! The beats carry a raw soul and hip hop funk vibe and it's given some added depth thanks to strong, hazy vocals by Miles – along with his solid work on flugelhorn. Titles include "Seein' Doe", "Chakal", "Don't Stop", "Sprinkle", "Dr. Strange", "All I Know", "10 Minutes", "Let It Rain", "Rain Don't Stop Me Now", "Lystics", "Really", "Get This Money", "Stars Shine" and "Moving On" and in a nod to classic hip hop albums, a series of "skits" – but don't think those are filler – these little interludes are purely musical and indispensable!

One of our favorite funk combos take on a host of gems from the past – all classic soul and funk numbers that really expand the sound of Osaka Monaurail! The group first got their start doing a great riff on the sound of James Brown – but here, they move into Memphis soul, Chicago funk, and more – working their well-honed instrumental talents over a host of killer cuts that explode in fresh new versions! Unlike other records, where Ryo Nakata sings, this time around he's just leading the group and playing keyboards – but that shift is OK with us, as it gives the horns and guitar lots more space to do their thing. Titles include "Cafe Regio's", "Supershine #9", "Chocolate Buttermilk", "Amen Brother", "Get Down", "Get Ready", "Little Old Money Maker", "Message To Love", "Divertissement", and "Hey Jude". CD also features 3 bonus live tracks – "Tighten Up", "Truck Turner", and "Soulful Strut". Note: This is a different package for the album Amen Brother – which was issued under the Osaka Monaurail name.

A really righteous little number from Nicole Willis – one that comes across with the funky sophistication of the best work on early 70s Curtom Records! Funky grooves from The Soul Investigators mix with a nice bit of strings on the track – elevating the tune from straight deep funk mode into something far hipper – and showing us that Nicole's got all the vocal chops to meet the challenge! A really wonderful number that would have been one of our favorite tracks of the 70s, had it been issued so many years ago!

The name's a bit unfamiliar, but the group's a great one – and an ensemble that features some major talents of recent years – including Gregory Porter on vocals, Robert Walter on keyboards, Karl Denson on saxes, and Melvin Sparks on guitar! The style's got all the classic modes you'd guess from such a lineup – a righteous blend of jazz, soul, and funk – with an instrumental groove that's already pretty darn great, but which really takes off once Gregory Porter's vocals come into the mix! Porter's one of our favorite jazz singers in recent years, and it's great to hear him in such a setting – and our hat's off to drummer Zak Najor for leading the group, and bringing Porter aboard for a few tracks. Titles include "She Danced Across The Floor", "Catchin Sparks", "Soul Good", "Wash Cloth", "He Said", "Issues Of Life", "Zak Attack", "Just IN Time", "Mystery", and "Scone Break".

Smoking soul from Nicole Willis – one of our favorite funky females of the past decade or two! Nicole's been making great records for awhile, but she really knocks it out of the part with this killer set – grooving hard with the Soul Investigators, in a raw raw groove that really gives the whole Daptone/Sharon Jones scene a run for their money! And if anything, the production and instrumentation on this one is even rawer than you might expect – in a great space that's somewhere between the funky 45 underground of the late 60s, and the best southern soul of the same time. Didier produced, and gives the record a few sweet trippy touches in just the right places – almost bringing in a Darondo aesthetic at a few points – and titles include "Delete My Number", "Light Years Ahead", "On The East Side", "Break Free", "Time To Get Business Straight", "It's All Because Of You", "You Got Me Moonwalkin", and "Now I Can Fly".

A stunner of a joint effort from Ethio jazz funk visionary Mulatu Astatke and psych funk genre-busting combo the Heliocentrics – a record we had the highest hopes for and still find wildly above and beyond our loftiest expectations! The collective touch on some classic Mulatu compositions, but the bulk of the material here is brand new, and purely collaborative – if you know the Helioecentrics or you know Mulatu, you can clearly hear what each bring to the table – and it works together brilliantly! There's often a gritty funk bottom end, the best drums and percussion, fat electric bass lines underneath Ethio jazz inspired sax, trumpet, trombone and flute – swirling psychedelic flourishes with theremin and other effects that never take away from the groove. Mulatu's on vibes, percussion, Wurlitzer, drums and keyboards – and his compositions and the Helios trade back and forth throughout the set. There's some additional Ethiopian instrumentation and atmospheric vocals in the mix on some tunes, and more of an astral, avant funk vibe on others, but there's always a brilliant confluence of styles. Bottom line, the album is everything we wanted it to be and more – this will undoubtedly be favorite for years to come! Titles include "Masenqo", "Cha Cha", "Addis Black Widow", "Mulatu", "Blue Nile", "Esketa Dance", "Chik Chikka", "Live From Tiger Lounge", "Chinese New Year", "Phantom Of The Panther", "Dewel"., "Fire In The Zoo", "An Epic Story" and "Anglo Ethio Suite".

The set begins with a smoker that's almost worth the price of admission alone – a totally great cover of "Summer Madness", done in a live slow funk mode – with wordless vocals and tenor added to the group's core sound! The version of the cut is perfect, and really sets the scene for the album's reworks of older jazz funk modes – mostly done by the core trio of the group, but augmented by vocals on one more cut! Other highlights include an excellent take on "Brazilian Rhyme" – that EWF favorite from years back – plus "Deixa", "Gentle Smiles", "Disco Devil", and "Runaway".

Smoking soul from Nicole Willis – one of our favorite funky females of the past decade or two! Nicole's been making great records for awhile, but she really knocks it out of the part with this killer set – grooving hard with the Soul Investigators, in a raw raw groove that really gives the whole Daptone/Sharon Jones scene a run for their money! And if anything, the production and instrumentation on this one is even rawer than you might expect – in a great space that's somewhere between the funky 45 underground of the late 60s, and the best southern soul of the same time. Didier produced, and gives the record a few sweet trippy touches in just the right places – almost bringing in a Darondo aesthetic at a few points – and titles include "Delete My Number", "Light Years Ahead", "On The East Side", "Break Free", "Time To Get Business Straight", "It's All Because Of You", "You Got Me Moonwalkin", and "Now I Can Fly".

The grooviest work so far from the Hi-Fly Orchestra – a set that moves even farther past the sublime territory of their debut, into a really classic blend of soul jazz and Latin rhythms – produced to perfection with a wonderfully solid feel! Instrumentation here is all live – a blend of sax, flute, trombone, Fender Rhodes, piano, and plenty of percussion – all handled with a feel that takes us back to some of our favorite territory on Verve Records from the 60s, those wonderful records that blended elements from the Latin underground with some of the harder jazz leanings of the period – a legacy these guys are happy to add to with their wonderful grooves. Miriam Aida guests on vocals on two cuts, but most titles are instrumental – and tunes include "Afro Boo", "Carioquinha", "Polonesa", "Mrs Shing A Ling", "Hi Fly Stomp", "Mambo Atomico", and a surprisingly groovy cover of "Crosstown Traffic".

The much anticipated full length debut of Brooklyn Afro Funk and psych soul-influenced combo Ikebe Shakedown – following up their tight, promising EP on the Colemine label with an excellent self-titled set on Ubiquity! One of our favorite things about Ikebe Shakedown's style is the way they blend signature elements of classic Afro Funk and soul with more broadly influenced grooves. Heavy horns and pummeling drums, vamping guitar licks and elastic basslines are prominent and funky – but they work with more measured and spaced out material, too. It's roomy enough to let the individual musicianship shine, and the production is really great. Includes ""Tujumba", "Kumasi Walk", "No Name Bar", "Tame The Beats", "Don't Contradict", "Refuge", "In Circles", "Asa-Sa", "The Hold Up", "The Viking" and "Five Points". 10 tracks on the vinyl.