Curiously melodic Gospel-influenced jazz funk.think Medeski Martin and Wood with Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau.

12 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: Funk, JAZZ: Acid Jazz



Details:
the new underground is a five-piece instrumental outfit hailing from the Portsmouth NH/Boston MA area. Originally dubbed "acoustic groove", the music most easily classified as jazz with its emphasis on improvisation but also draws equally from funk, soul/R&B, and Gospel as well. The melodies are surprisingly catchy and the backbeat will bring jazz connoisseurs to their feet. The clearest influences in the music of the new underground is Joshua Redman's Elastic Band and Medeski Martin and Wood as the group brings a real rootsy approach to jazz improvisation. The musicians on the album each come from different musical backgrounds: Sean Berry (woodwinds) is a conservatory trained jazz musician; Ryan Parker (piano) has recorded works of Ravel; Ben Zecker (Hammond B3 organ) is an in-demand Boston funk musician; Bridget Kearney (upright bass on three tracks) tours the States playing bluegrass; and Eric Donnelly (drums/songwriter) originally played classical French horn. The touring lineup includes Eric Donnelly on Hammond B3 and Mike Walsh on drums.

urban suite is the band's first studio album which features nine Eric Donnelly originals (two co-written by Dan Shure and Mark Shilansky) as well as an instrumental arrangement of Talib Kweli's 2002 single, "Get By", and a cover of McCoy Tyner's "Passion Dance" in 7/4. The CD features TNU favorites "In the Midst" and "The Uncommon Man" as well as the first quintet rehearsal take of "Is the Soul".