The Budos Band: Chicago Falcon + Budos Rising (snippets)
From Budos Band II (Daptone, 2007)
Most associate Daptone Records with Sharon Jones and the Dapkings and certainly, that is the label’s crown jewel but it’s worth remembering that the label is home to other artists as well, including The Budos Band, one of the more impressive funk instrumental groups out there. Time was when most funk bands were replaying hip-hop licks – and there was certainly a time and place for that (still is, if you look at the success of the El Michels Affair/Wu-Tang collabos) – but over the years, many groups have learned the musical chops of more than just the JBs and Meters-style of funk. If Antibalas is the nuevo-Afrobeat group then the Budos Band is clearly updating Ethiopian beat to our times -think compositions of eclectic, exotic arrangements and melodies mixed with funky rhythms that even Mulatu wouldn’t have seen coming.
This entire new album (check out the group’s first as well) is incredibly listenable, meaning it’s the sort of music you can throw on in any situation and just let it ride. I especially like “Budos Rising,” which is a masterpiece of different styles all colliding together in sublime unison.
Thanks to the kind folks at Daptones, we have a few copies of the new CD to give away. To win, tell me the names and instruments of the group’s horn section. Send your answer here. I’ll randomly select two-three winners after August 17th.
Speaking of which, congrats to the winner of the Marc Broussard LP giveaway – Deb.
Congrats to the Mark Ronson CD giveaways – Phil, Ken, Tim, Justin and KB.
Do I have more goodies? Oh yeah.
chatter