With none other than ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (“Dr. Funkadamus”) playing emcee, the fun, funky fusion excursion Rock Candy Funk Party drops an advance track from their second album Groove Is King, set for release July 31, 2015 by Provogue, a division of the Mascot Label Group.
“Don’t Be Stingy With the SMPTE” signifies a pretty big change in the overall strategy of Rock Candy Funk Party, still ably led by its drummer Tal Bergman and featuring the guitar talents of Joe Bonamassa. As before, Ron DeJesus also provides guitar, Mike Merritt handles the bass and guest Renato Neto is back on keys. Yes, it remains an instrumental groove outfit manned by superior musicians. But whereas before, the tunes might be called “jams,” these are fully developed songs with sleeker production and modern touches that places the music closer to the present than it does the seventies.
At least, that’s what is suggested by “Stingy,” a slick neo-disco number where the core band is supplemented by an equally high-powered horn section formed by James Campagnola (baritone sax), Ada Rovatti (alto, tenor and soprano saxes) and Rovatti’s husband, the eminent Randy Brecker on trumpet. More keyboards are provided by Fred Kron, and Daniel Sadownick is supplying percussion. Some swirling, mirror ball strings can even be heard in spots.
But the groove laid down by the kernel group remains undeniably strong, and Bonamassa — even half a world away from his usual blues-rock environs — delivers a right-to-the-point, stinging solo. Brecker does his thing, too, on the brass.
For the video, Rock Candy Funk Party this time is accompanied by a whole lot of eye candy, taking some of its cues from Robert Palmer’s iconic “Addicted To Love” video. Supermodels wielding instruments liberally interspersed with studio footage, it combines the grime with the glamour of music making and both meet in the middle at “fun.”
Grab a free download of Rock Candy Funk Party’s “Don’t Be Stingy With the SMPTE” here.
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