Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Encyclopedia
Brooklyn Funk Essentials is a music collective who mix jazz
, funk
, and hip hop
, featuring musician
s and poet
s from different cultures. The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker
and bassist and musical director Lati Kronlund. In the mid-1990s, the group became a staple of the New York City
club scene.
Their debut album Cool and Steady and Easy (1994) scored an underground hit with the rendition of Pharoah Sanders
' "The Creator Has a Master Plan". The following album, In the Buzzbag
(1998), included Turkish folk music
rhythms and instruments, recorded in consortium with the Turkish
clarinettist Hüsnü Şenlendirici. Further albums followed in 2000 and 2009 which more resembled their first offering.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, featuring musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
s from different cultures. The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
and bassist and musical director Lati Kronlund. In the mid-1990s, the group became a staple of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
club scene.
Their debut album Cool and Steady and Easy (1994) scored an underground hit with the rendition of Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders
Pharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
' "The Creator Has a Master Plan". The following album, In the Buzzbag
In the Buzzbag
In the BuzzBag is an album by American funk band Brooklyn Funk Essentials and Turkish band Laço Tayfa.-Track listing:# By And Bye – 5:34# Istanbul Twilight – 6:51# Magick Karpet Ride – 5:06# In The BuzzBag – 6:27# Keep It Together – 7:26...
(1998), included Turkish folk music
Turkish folk music
Turkish folk music combines the distinct cultural values of all civilisations that have lived in Anatolia and the Ottoman territories in Europe and Asia...
rhythms and instruments, recorded in consortium with the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
clarinettist Hüsnü Şenlendirici. Further albums followed in 2000 and 2009 which more resembled their first offering.
Musicians involved
Musicians involved in Brooklyn Funk Essentials' projects include:- Hanifah Walidah (aka Sha-Key) (vocals)
- Joi CardwellJoi CardwellJoi Cardwell is a female Biracial Club/Dance, House music and R&B music singer-songwriter.-Career:She has had major success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she placed eight songs in the top ten between 1995 to 2007...
(vocals) - Papa DeePapa DeeDavid Christopher Daniel Wahlgren , better known by the stage name Papa Dee, is a Swedish rap, ragga and dancehall musician...
(vocals) - Everton Sylvester (vocals)
- Ipec Scnot (vocals)
- Stephanie McKayStephanie McKayStephanie McKay is a soul singer and songwriter from the Bronx in New York, whose music encompasses styles include elements of classic rock, funk, pop and hip hop....
(vocals) - Everton Sylvester (poets)
- Cengizhan Elibol (drums)
- David AllenDavid AllenDavid Allen, Dave Allen, David Allan, or Dave Allan may refer to:-Acting, entertainment and broadcasting:* Dave Allen , Irish comedian* Dave Allen , American television and film actor...
(poets) - Jazzy Nice (DJ)
- Yuka HondaYuka HondaYuka Honda is a Japanese musician who resides in New York City. She is a multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, record producer, and co-founder of the band Cibo Matto...
(keyboard) - Josh RosemanJosh RosemanJosh Roseman is an American jazz trombonist.Roseman was born in Boston, and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. Roseman toured Jamaica with The Skatalites and in Australia with the Christopher Hale Ensemble...
(trombone) - Paul Shapiro (saxophone)
- Yancy Drew Lambert (vocals, drums)
- E.J. Rodriguez (percussion)
- Lati Kronlund (guitar, bass)
- Yıldıran Göz (oudOudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
) - "Bassy" Bob Brockman (trumpet, flugelhorn)
- David JensenDavid JensenDavid "Kid" Jensen , is a Danish Canadian-born, British radio DJ.-Early career:Born in a Danish family residing Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began his career in his home country at the age of sixteen playing jazz and classical music. He then joined Radio Luxembourg at the age of eighteen in...
(tenor saxophone) - Iwan van Hetten (keyboard, trumpet)
Albums
- Watcha PlayinWatcha PlayinWatcha Playin is the 4th studio album of American funk band Brooklyn Funk Essentials where they celebrate their 15th year.-Track listing:# Need 12:40# Dance - Free Night 4:46# Bellybuttons T&a 5:00# Rude Boy Shuffle 6:38# The Park 4:11...
(2009) - Make Them Like It (2000)
- In the BuzzbagIn the BuzzbagIn the BuzzBag is an album by American funk band Brooklyn Funk Essentials and Turkish band Laço Tayfa.-Track listing:# By And Bye – 5:34# Istanbul Twilight – 6:51# Magick Karpet Ride – 5:06# In The BuzzBag – 6:27# Keep It Together – 7:26...
(1998) - Cool and Steady and Easy (1994)
Singles/EPs
- Mambo Con Dancehall [12"] (2000)
- Mambo Con Dancehall [CD] (2000)
- Make Them Like It (Sampler) (2000)
- Magick Karpet Ride (1999)
- Big Apple Boogaloo (1997)
- Creator Has a Master Plan [Cassette Single] (1995)
- Creator Has a Master Plan [CD Single] (1995)