Cool young band Funk Engine launch their second album with a free hot gig at Hotel Blue on Sunday, April 30. The four-piece group, dedicated to groove-based music, jazz fusion and reggae, will funk it up big time from 6.30pm when they launch Taking a Ride.
For some musicians, funk is where it’s at. It starts and ends with the groove! Funk Engine is one such band. The band members (three from Sydney, one from Byron Bay) all met through the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Jazz Workshop. Funk Engine is electric bass player, composer and band leader Siebe Pogson, Nish Manjanuth (tenor saxophone), Holly Conner (drums) and Felix Lalanne (electric guitar).
The band’s favourite artists include Sydney jazz fusion outfit The Subterraneans, electric bassist and composer Steve Hunter and Japanese funk powerhouses, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro. Other influences are Bob Marley, Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, James Brown, Parliament, Bootsy Collins, Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk.
Taking a Ride was recorded at Free Energy Device Studios, produced by Llew Kiek and Richard Belkner, mastered by Michael Lynch. Guest artists include Rhyan Clapham aka rapper Dobby, Deiniol Chynoweth (vocals), Nick Polovineo (trombone), Nick Calligeros (trumpet) and Novak Manojlovic (keyboard). Polovineo will join the band at the Hotel Blue album launch.
Funk Engine’s Taking a Ride album launch, free concert April 30th, 6.30-8.30pm at Hotel Blue, Katoomba, 88 Lurline Street. Visit www.funkenginemusic.com.