Another month, another night of Denver funk thanks to Live For Live Music presents The Funk Sessions at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom!
Coming back for round 5, the monthly funky residency at Cervantes has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the biggest throw-downs each month. Combining an all-star cast of some of the jam scene’s most talented musicians, The Funk Sessions presents funk standards with an effortless execution and smorgasbord of musical highlights. Each month, these sessions bring funk fans with a thorough analysis of the genre. How thorough, you ask? The set closed with two different songs, both named “Rock Steady”, and both by invariably different artists but brought together through the funky ties that bind. From Aretha Franklin to The Whispers, The Funk Sessions exploits all that makes a song funky.
This time around, the band consisted of a whole new cast of heavy hitters starting with Marc Brownstein (Disco Biscuits) on bass, Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) on vocals/trumpet, Nick Cassarino (Nth Power) on guitar, Joey Porter (The Motet) on keys, Nick Gerlach (Michael Meert & The Pretty Fantastics) on saxophone, and last but certainly not least, bandleader Isaac Teel (TAUK) holding it down on drums and vocals. The celebration was only amplified by the fact that it was saxophonist Nick Gerlach’s birthday, to which there were several a cheers to. Coincidentally, it was drummer Adam Deitch’s birthday during the April Funk Sessions. Clearly, funk musicians are each born exactly one month apart #themoreyouknow.
The set was filled with an eclectic mix of funk standards and some less conventional picks. Classic tunes like Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good”, which featured Jennifer Hartswick’s commanding vocal prowess that absolutely dominated every single performance she was a part of, and The Meters’ “It ‘Aint No Use”, whose groove felt endless and unbreakable, all served the funk theme well, paying tribute to the legends and pioneers of the genre with a respectful tenacity. But the less conventional picks did wonders for the set experience as well. The band performed a ripping version of Lauryn Hill’s suggestively sultry single “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, which featured spot-on rhyming from Isaac Teel during the verses and a robust vocal performance from Jen Hartswick for the choruses. The band also performed an entrancing cover of the Kings Of Leon hit, “Sex On Fire”. The cover was performed at about 1/4 the original speed, which accented the solemn nature of the verses and contrasted the chorus, exploding with an exhilarating wail. They even found a place in the mid-section to breakdown a bit and explore the tune briefly, allowing guitarist Nick Cassarino space to stretch out and deliver a fierce solo, eventually blending into a full-band vocal build, which peaked the song one last time, driven by a goose-bump inducing wail from Jennifer Hartswick. Easily one of the most inspiring moments of the evening.
The Funk Sessions have become less a residency and more a monthly celebration of the jam scene and the music that inspires it. Blending artists from all walks of life, all paying tribute to one of their most inspired genres. All jam bands have some funk roots, and thanks to the funk sessions, we get to see those roots grow into something special.
The Funk Sessions | 2019-05-21 | Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
-= One Set =-
01. (Intro)
02. It ‘Aint No Use (The Meters cover)
03. That Thing (Lauryn Hill cover)
04. Tell Me Something Good (Chaka Khan cover)
05. Sex On Fire (Kings Of Leon cover)
06. More Bounce To The Ounce (Zapp cover)
07. Love Me Like A Man (Bonnie Raitt cover)
08. (Jam)[1]
09. Exodus (Bob Marley cover)
10. (Banter)
11. Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin cover)
12. Rock Steady (The Whispers cover)[2]
-= Encore =-
13. (Band Introductions / Encore Break)
14. Superstitious (Stevie Wonder cover)
-= Line Up =-
Isaac Teel (TAUK) on Drums/Vocals
Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits) on Bass
Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) on Vocals & Trumpet
Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power) on Guitar
Joey Porter (The Motet) on Keys
Nicholas Gerlach (Michael Menert & The Pretty Fantastics) on Saxophone
Show Notes: This was the 5th installation of Live For Live Music Presents: The Funk Sessions. D-Vibes Watermelon Funk opened the show.
[1] “(Open Jam)” featured Adam Deitch (Lettuce / Break Sceience) on additional percussion and also contained “I Wish” (Stevie Wonder) quotes.
[2] “Rock Steady” featured Lyle Divinsky (The Motet) on vocals.
Taper Notes: Setup directly behind the soundboard DFC mics raised around 8′ PAS. Board patch thanks to FOH Engineer Shrink!
Thanks to The Funk Sessions, Ninja Video and Cervantes for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartenders! #spacetapes
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