Respecta.is - The Ultimate Hip Hop Portal

Amazingly, it's been seven years since Brooklyn Funk Essentals released their fourth studio album, Watcha Playin' - and perhaps even more remarkable - it is now twenty years since the release of the band's debut album, Cool & Steady & Easy (RCA 1995). Time fies when you're having funk. The new record brings together many of the original and past members of the band, such as Joi Card- well, Papa Dee, Stephanie McKay, Everton Sylvester and Hanifah Walidah on vocals. The horn playing of Iwan VanHeten and Anna Brooks as well as cameos by Josh Roseman, Bob Brockmann and Paul Shapiro. The drums and percussion of Yancy Drew, Hux Netermalm and Danny Sadownick. The guitars of Masa Shimizu and Desmond Foster, who also does some lead vocals. Bill Ware's vibraphone playing, which has not been heard with BFE since Cool & Steady & Easy is featured on the song Unique, co-writen by Carlton McCarthy. As always, founding member Lat Kronlund plays bass and is also responsible for the album's producton. One song features a very special guest appearance by non other than the late, great Isaac Hayes. Another song is co-writen by legendary house diva, Crystal Waters, who also does background vocals. The musical ambiton has been to make a collecton of tmeless soul songs using Brooklyn Funk Essentals' trademark melange of funk, disco, jazz, ska, latn and house favours - all played live in the studio by the ever-evolving and revolving BFE all-star band