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Cartoon and anecdote from The Denver Bootleg Series
Gumbo le Funque has no problem keeping audiences dancing all night…
The amazing musicianship stands out here.
“Andrea Merida’s band, Gumbo le Funque, brings tapping toes of all creeds to their feet.”
The band’s music is decidedly more fun than confrontational, but lyrics don’t shy away from populism. Justice sings, “Don’t let the man stand on your neck / they just don’t give a damn,” on the song “Jump Up, Run Down the Alley.”
The album leads off with Go Your Own Way, which showcases the band’s unique ensemble gone funky approach. But Someday (We’ll Make Our Getaway) is the hidden pearl, with a jazz foundation supporting a R&B house that is literally burning down…The energy of the band’s roadhouse shows has found a precise rendering in the studio. It’s more than party music. It’s dangerous.
August 19, 2014
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Expect to hear some music that makes you want to jump up and dance when Gumbo le Funque hits the stage. Although the band plays a mix of traditional New Orleans tunes and some of their new original songs, they add a little funk to whatever they do.
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“#PowerLoveFreedom” is the type of album that has a momentous sound that’ll be sure to linger in your head for days…But every song on here is a masterful blend of funk and contemporary jazz with varying other flavors. You can’t help but get up and shake your booty a little.
“#PowerLoveFreedom” is the type of album that has a momentous sound that’ll be sure to linger in your head for days…But every song on here is a masterful blend of funk and contemporary jazz with varying other flavors. You can’t help but get up and shake your booty a little.
“…dancers kicked up their heels to the exuberance of the fabulous local band, Gumbo Le Funque.”
Gumbo le Funque’s high-energy, muscular sound, evoking such greats as Trombone Shorty and Galactic, is captured on this debut recording. Local studio royalty have contributed to this freshman effort, recorded at Mighty Fine Studios in Denver. The primary engineer was Mario Casilio (Leftover Salmon, Bill Frisell, the Mercury Project), with assistance from Colin Bricker (DeVotchka, Fred Hess).”
“From the super horn-heavy openers “Funquey Gumbo” to the sultry soprano sax on “Riff With It” to the melodic, vocally driven “Make It Grow,” Gumbo lays down a party soundtrack that is well played, intoxicating in spirit, and sounds like something that could be spilling out the doors of Tipitina’s on a muggy summer night.”
Another notable band playing this weekend is Gumbo le Funque, a New Orleans-styled ensemble performing jazz and funk music, (Grand Junction Downtown Partnership spokesman Aaron Hoffman) added.
Gumbo Le Funque bills their sound as “party music,” but the strains of the horn-based ensemble is much more specific. The band specializes in the blues, funk and jazz-based sounds of New Orleans, a pedigree that comes through in the outfit’s high-energy live show. The band brings their signature blend of Southern roots music to Aurora’s premiere blues venue on Friday.
“Steaming Hot Gumbo in Edwards”
Denver — Denver’s only New Orleans funk -inspired band, Gumbo le Funque, will be collecting donations of materials needed to fight the Black Forest fire outside Colorado Springs, at its show at the Main St. Grill in Edwards on Friday evening.