Back In The Studio

Brooklyn Funk Essentials are back in the studio recording new material. This time, they have chosen to work at the legendary Atlantis Studios in Stockholm.

The studio, which is famous for its collection of pristine vintage instruments and mics, centres around a glorious Neve board, which has lived there since 1974. The band chose to set up all instruments in a circle in the big recording room, as intimacy and contact between the musicians was more important than sound separation.

Photo by Richard Ahlstrom

Photo by Richard Ahlstrom

The band started off by rehearsing and arranging new songs at drummer Hux Flux's rehearsal room. Some songs have been developed during live gigs in the last twelve months. Others are completely new. This will be the first release by BFE featuring their new lead singer, Alison Limerick. But long time BFE guitaris/singer, Desmond Foster, is also doing a good amount of lead vocals on the new recordings.

Photo by Richard Ahlstrom.

Photo by Richard Ahlstrom.

 

Expect a new EP to drop on Dorado Records in June 2018, followed by the complete LP album later in the year. The band will continue to write and record during the summer, as well as trying some of the new songs out at a few select live venues. Watch this space for more updates.

The Week In Funk

Alison Limerick and Desmond Foster with Hux Flux and Lati Kronlund. Photo: Laurent Robert

Alison Limerick and Desmond Foster with Hux Flux and Lati Kronlund. Photo: Laurent Robert

This week will see the return of Brooklyn Funk Essentials on the European roads. After last week’s show at The Arena in Berlin, where BFE and special guest Hüsnü Senlendirici, played to five thousand fans, the band continues this Tuesday (March 22) with a return to London’s Jazz Café. This will be followed by no less than three straight dates in the Paris area, starting on March 23 at Le Hangar in Ivry-sur-Seine. The next day (March 24), BFE will return to New Morning in central Paris, which along with Tramps in New York and Babylon in Istanbul ranks among the clubs where the band have played most often. Rounding off the week, the band will play at Le Deux Pièces Cuisine in Blanc Mesnil on Saturday, March 25.

The band is very excited to present their new show, fronted by UK soulstress Alison Limerick alongside Desmond Foster on lead vocals and guitar. Audiences can also expect several features by Anna Brooks (saxophone) and Iwan VanHetten (trumpet and keys) in the horn section, and the solid grooves of Lati Kronlund (bass) and Hux Flux on drums. The set will include a taste of the band’s new EP, which is currently in production.

In The BuzzBag on Vinyl

Steaming hot from the printing press - we just received the brand new vinyl reissue of Brooklyn Funk Essentials featuring Laço Tayfa's seminal 'In The BuzzBag' album. Pressed on heavy duty virgin vinyl, and sequenced as a double 33 1/3 RPM album the music really explodes on this format. The album was recorded live at Imaj Studios in Istanbul during nine hectic days and nights in the winter of 1998, during which the twentythree collective members of BFE and Laço Tayfa combined their musical ideas and influences, which ended up earning them a Grammy nomination. Watch this space for info on how you can get your copy.

The Wrap-Up

The past weekend saw Brooklyn Funk Essentials rounding off the summer's touring with two last gigs in Lyon and Bordeaux, France. Photographer Richard Ahlstrom took some excellent pictures at the shows which we are sharing with you.

Photo by Richard Ahlstrom.