Here are a couple of bands that bring back the soulful mix of funk and horns a la Tower of Power. Put on your dancing boots and head out to the nightclub!
Crowd Company features the visceral vocals of Joanne Marshall and Esther Dee out in front of Roert Fleming/g-voc, Claudio Corona/B3-clav, Emil Engstrom/b, Chirs Rand/sax, Henry Spencer/tp and Robin Lowery as they deliver stomping originals. Corona’s clavinet produces a reminiscence of vintage Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston as the singers womp out on “Take Off The Crown” and “Soar,” while the horns with guest trombonist Brian Thomas take you to Graham Central Station with some wacka wooka guitar on “Fever” and “Getting The Groove.” Sly and the Family Stone-style celebration causes a riot on “Saw You Yesterday” and the ladies mix funk and reggae on the sweet toned “Let Me Be.” Put on your Afro Sheen!
The band Bonerama gets down to brass tacks with the three sliding trombones if Mark Mullins, Craig Klein and Greg Hicks join in with sousaphone-bassist Matt Perrine, guitarist Bert Cotton and drummer AJ Hall for some vintage Crescent City celebrations. The three ‘bone players also sing, but the main feel is like half-time at Grambling College, with snappy grooves and brass that’s sharp enough to cut through a cardboard box. Memphis percolations on “Christiana” and a reggae lilt on “Sun Lady” keep the mood varied, but the focus is on rollicking brass as the team beats to a pulp high stepping stompers like “High Horse” “Mr. Okra” and “Happy.” Do they do have synchronized marches?