Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
KDTU has electrified audiences around the world for over 25 years from the fields of Naeba in Japan at the infamous Fuji Rock Festival to the hallowed stage of Madison Square Garden where they previously joined the Dave Matthews Band and The Godfather of Soul, James Brown. From performing as Sexual Chocolate (Karl was in the original band in the movie Coming To America and its sequel) at the Outside Lands Music festival in San Francisco, to being the first late night act at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival, KDTU have been a dominating force in music for the past 25 years.
All-night, sold-out concerts during Jazzfest in New Orleans have featured sit ins by everyone from Lenny Kravitz & Steve Winwood (with whom Karl has recorded and toured) to avant-garde luminaries Marc Ribot & Boyfriend. Chuck Leavell and Bernard Fowler (Karl’s bandmates in The Rolling Stones where Karl replaced the great Bobby Keys as saxophonist in 2014) have joined onstage and on record, as have Lukas Nelson, John Oates, Michael Franti, Warren Haynes, Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne, Big Daddy Kane, Roy Hargrove, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Joshua Redman, Marcus King, and Bernie Worrell, among others.
Touring the country with the Allman Brothers, My Morning Jacket, D’Angelo, The Roots, Public Enemy, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, Parliament Funkadelic, Slightly Stoopid, Widespread Panic, very few concert goers have been untouched by the Tiny Universe live. In addition to KDTU, Karl Denson aka “Diesel” is a founding member of the seminal groove act The Greyboy Allstars.
::: KDTU TOURING BAND :::
Karl Denson: Sax/Flute/Vocals
Ricio Fruge: Trumpet/Vocals
Ricky Giordano: Guitar/ Vocals
Rashon Murph: Keys
Parker McAllister: Bass
Alfred Jordan: Drums
The Motet
Formed over two decades ago, the funk six-piece The Motet have learned to work as an interlocking unit, with each member bolstering one another towards the best creative output. This symbiosis has led to a unique style and cohesive musical chemistry, as seen in the band's immaculate live performances and seamless blend of funk, soul, jazz, and rock. With a fervent fanbase in tow, The Motet have sold out shows across the nation, performed six headlining slots at Red Rocks and sets at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Bottlerock, Electric Forest, Bumbershoot, Summer Camp, and High Sierra.
But even after their 20+ years of accolades and recognition, the legendary outfit - composed of Dave Watts (drums), Joey Porter (keys), Garrett Sayers (bass), Drew Sayers (keys and saxophone), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), and new singer Sarah Clarke - are still exploring new sonic ideas and finding new ways to showcase each other’s skill sets.
The band released their 10th studio album, All Day, in January 2023 - an eclectic instrumental voyage threaded by the infectious grooves and immaculate, layered arrangements that The Motet have become known for.
Now with vocal powerhouse Sarah Clarke in tow, the band continues their journey with new songs and fresh arrangements of Motet classics.
Dave Watts / drums
Joey Porter / keys
Garrett Sayers / bass
Drew Sayers / keys & saxophone
Ryan Jalbert / guitar
Sarah Clarke / vocals
The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux, Jr.
On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you'll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line, known as "the rumble". Featuring seven GRAMMY-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band — it's an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture. Composed of Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, keyboardist Andriu Yanovski, and drummer Trenton O’Neal, the group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers — but updated, modern and vibrant befitting the next generation — with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.
The Rumble's debut album, “Live at the Maple Leaf”, received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Regional Roots Album 2024. Their live show is a symphony of rich color and propulsive sound, with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian-style call-and-response chanting. The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles, both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux’s father, Monk Boudreaux. The Rumble continues the fight to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community for the next generation while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance. The Rumble provides audiences with not only a top-tier musical event, but a chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture-bearers.
Super Sonic Shorties
Super Sonic Shorties is a collective of like-minded, experienced, accomplished musicians who just happen to be women—led by the fearless Nikki Glaspie! Nikki has traveled the world over with artists Beyoncé, Maceo Parker, Snarky Puppy, Yemen Blues, Dumpstaphunk, her own bands The Nth Power, KAMANI, Mike Dillon & Punkadelick, Trouble No More, and her 15-piece funk big band Nikki Glaspie & The Homies.
Super Sonic Shorties features a rotating cast of incredible, musical ladies. Former lineups have featured Nikki Glaspie (drums/vocals), Amy Bellamy (keys), Kat Dyson (guitar), Tonya Sweets (bass), Marcie Chapa (percussion), Natalie Cressman (trombone/vocals), Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet/vocals), Shira Elias (vocals), and Kanika Moore (vocals).
Members of Super Sonic Shorties have tour and/or recording credits with many artists, including Prince, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Lizzo, Herbie Hancock, Bruno Mars, Klymaxxx, JLo, Phish, Stephanie Mills, George Michael, Kanye West, Milton Nascimento, Cyndi Lauper, Maceo Parker, Snarky Puppy, Nicholas Payton, Stephen Marley, The Neville Brothers, Eric Benet and Erykah Badu.
Diggin Dirt
From behind the redwood curtain of Humboldt County, California, the seven piece funk-soul band Diggin Dirt has carved out a niche as a live party not to be missed. Shoveling their own path, Diggin Dirt has seen sustained growth over the past few years, with multiple national tours and festival stops at Jam Cruise, High Sierra, Same Same but Different, Live Oak, Cascade Equinox, Joshua Tree Music Festival and many more.
Per a 2024 Jam Cruise writer, “This was the soul music I grew up with in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but I confess I wasn’t expecting [Diggin Dirt] to be throwing it down this hard. This group is impossibly tight, and Zach Alder might be the best soul shouter I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a few.”
Their infectious sound is fueled by blazing horns, searing guitars and a relentlessly driving rhythm section, and tying it all together is the band’s frontman who launches the ensemble into rarefied air with his pipes, charisma and natural-born soul. With flashes of James Brown or Sly and the Family Stone, Otis Redding or Tower of Power, the band’s sound is both familiar and yet refreshingly original, layering psychedelic rock, Motown soul, afrobeat and even reggae atop a thick foundation of late-60s inspired funk.
LowDown Brass Band
Embodying the vibrant Chicago music culture, LowDown Brass Band is a one-of-a-kind horn ensemble weaving the rhythm of the streets with conscious hip hop, reggae, and soul. Rigorously touring, LowDown has performed on the most unique stages, from the Montreal Jazz Fest to the Cotai Jazz Fest.
Despite the last four years, LowDown has stayed busy, releasing Three albums, "The Reel Sessions, LowDown Nights and $itizens of the World”, which showcase their unique sound and further push the boundaries of their genre.
Leaning on their talent and unconventional style, LowDown Brass Band continues to carve out a path, defying convention and charting their own course in the ever-evolving landscape of music.
Polyrhythmics
Polyrhythmics sound originated in Seattle’s underground deep funk scene combining impossibly tight grooves with bold brass and hypnotic percussion that showcased elements of R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat which defined the instrumental group’s early era sound.
Now on their 14th year as a recording project and touring ensemble, the band’s sound continues to evolve with the 2023 release of their seventh full length album Filter System. As journalist Bee Getz writes, “it feels something like a new beginning for these fellas; Filter System is filled with uptempo dance tunes, crunkadelic bangers, and dusty blunted safaris-in-sound”.
Polyrhythmics virtuosic musicianship and musical conversation has been built on a relentless touring schedule of the previous decade which has led them to their current sound that fills a room with an impending mood where anything could happen - sometimes evoking their brighter and cinematic Fela-influences, but also a more sinister and darker turn toward a more a progressive sonic palette combining psych-funk with dub reggae, film noir “and galaxies beyond.”
According to guitarist/co-founder Ben Bloom, “We have a love affair with making people move their bodies, and the music we’ve been creating lately absolutely reflects that.”
Polyrhythmics are:
Ben Bloom: Guitars, Grant Schroff: Drums, Nathan Spicer: Keyboards, Jason Gray: Bass, Scott Morning: Trumpet, Elijah Clark: Trombone, Art Brown: Sax and Flute
Funkways
American music artist, Joel Ricci (Lucky Brown, and The S.G.’s), writes and records in his tiny forest cabin in the foothills of the North Olympic Mountains on the Olympic peninsula. When called to do so, he assembles and conducts dynamic live public ceremonies/spectacles employing some of the most sought-after Funk and Jazz artists in the Seattle area. Via his dozens of self-produced "deep funk" vinyl singles released in Europe over the past two decades, he has been hailed by music mavens worldwide as a deep funk pioneer. His latest live ritual, “Funkways” is an all-original rhythmic endeavor kicking up dust at the crossroads of primitive funk and vernacular jazz. In the words of the artist: “Funkways’ mission is to commemorate, celebrate, and consecrate true soul music as played from the heart, and to engender cultural health by promoting greater neighborhood social cohesion through the ancient practice of collective dance and community voice-raising. It is our aim to publicly generate live dance music that encourages the metabolization of body-held trauma as the result of survival in the belly of a brutal empire that seeks to disconnect, dominate, and dehumanize its subjects.”
www.funkways.com
True Loves
Listening to the abundant sounds of the Seattle-based funk & soul group, True Loves, is like walking down a favorite neighborhood street, slapping five with friends, checking up with clerks in their stores, and smelling the familiar scents of your most cherished locale. The band is its own block party.
What began in 2014 as a jam session between three of the city’s best - pocket-perfect drummer David McGraw, intoxicating bassist Bryant Moore, and otherworldly guitarist Jimmy James - has since blossomed into a global force that features percussionist Iván Galvez, trombonist Greg Kramer, and saxophonists Gordon Brown and Skerik. Together, the group’s live performances have garnered them much acclaim and millions of streams on YouTube.
In 2017, True Loves recorded their debut instrumental LP, Famous Last Words, which received worldwide adoration. In 2021, the group signed to Color Red Music and released their sophomore album, Sunday Afternoon.
McTuff
Hammond organist Joe Doria brings together some of the best of the NW music scene to create a powerful and jaw-dropping funk and jazz sound like you’ve never heard, exhibiting a mix of stellar musicianship, seasoned songwriting and deep groove where no musical stone gets unturned. McTuff is best experienced LIVE. It’s a movin’ and groovin’ adventure that you will not soon forget.
McTuff began in 2008 as an ode to jazz organ greats Jimmy Smith and Captain Jack McDuff, and has since evolved into a versatile and exciting group that has performed across the nation. The band has two albums under its belt, their 2009 release OG McTuff Vol. 1, and the 2011 trio follow-up ‘McTuff Vol. 2: After the Show. McTuff Volume 3: The Root followed with the addition of drummer, Tarik Abouzied.
McTuff has performed at Bumbershoot, the New Orleans Jazz Fest, as well as festivals and venues all over the US. The band has also held a residency at Seattle’s legendary Seamonster Lounge for over five years. Their Tuesday night show has become regular stop for local and traveling musicians including Skerik, Allen Stone, Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), G Love (and Special Sauce), Blake Lewis, Kevin Sawka, and many others.
The members of McTuff have performed and toured with an impressive list of world-renowned groups and artists including Carlos Santana, Stanton Moore, Ravi Coltrane, Bobby Previte, Michael Shrieve, Mike Stern and many others.
Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme
ELDRIDGE GRAVY & THE COURT SUPREME is a funk juggernaut. Backed by the hot, gritty orchestration of the 13 member Court Supreme, front man Eldridge Gravy easily works dance floors to a fever pitch with his full-bore performance and smooth rapport with the audience.
In 2022, the group released a series of themed digital singles from an upcoming collection. Recorded at the Funk Castle, mixed by Floyd Reitsma at Studio Litho.
Over the past few years EG&tCS have headlined practically every prestigious venue in Seattle and Portland, including Crocodile, Neumo’s, Tractor Tavern, Showbox, Doug Fir Lounge, and Star Theater. They have also ruthlessly funked thousands of festivalgoers at Bumbershoot, the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, July 4th at Gasworks Park, and Summer Meltdown.
Meet The Band:
Eldridge Gravy: Lead Vocals, Lady Gravy: Vocals, Zelphina: Vocals, Donnie Doller$tack – Vocals, The Colonel: Bari & Alto Sax, Yeagers: Tenor Sax, Kalamazoo Kid: Trumpet, Pastor Peas: Trombone, Papa Ganoosh: Keyboards, JP Swiff: Guitar, Sweet Baby Dave: Bass, ‘Ol Pollina: Drums
Andy Coe Band
With a rich background in jazz and a joyful enthusiasm for blues and psychedelic rock, Andy Coe is recognized as a deeply intuitive, emotive guitarist. As an architect of sound and style, Coe draws in listeners, making collective exploration and resolution accessible across genres.
Andy has performed in many bands including Andy Coe Band, Rashied Ali Quintet, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Skerik Bandalabra, Clinton Fearon, McTuff and many more.
Andy Coe Band:
Originally formed to pay tribute to guitar hero and folk legend Jerry Garcia, the Andy Coe Band has evolved into the liveliest psychedelic jam band to come out of the Pacific Northwest in years. Guitarist Andy Coe, with Gary Palmer on keys, Chris Jones on bass, and Scott Goodwin on drums, deliver stellar improvisational tunes in mystical proportions.
Funky 2 Death
What once started as the house band at the Seamonster Lounge in Seattle has evolved into a force to be reckoned with. With a mixture of hard-hitting instrumentals, and great vocal songs alike, F2D gets the crowd moving no matter where they play.
To talk about F2D is to start with the bones. The body of the band is made solid first by the formidable drummer and MC, Derneill “Woogie D” Washington, and pocket-perfect bassist, Mark Mattrey. The two are music life partners, bonded in the vow of rhythm. Mind-melding keyboardist and rapper, Roc Phizzle, breathes life into the group as electrifying vocalist and keyboardist, Melissa Montalto, belts lightning bolts. Versatile guitarist Jimmy James rounds out the core, bringing his signature combination of bolstering funk and rock. With a rotating cast of horn players, the band is a champion of sound.
F2D, which enjoys influences like Sly Stone, James Brown, Graham Central Station and Chaka Kahn, has played many of Seattle’s mainstay festivals, venues and radio stations - from the Fremont Solstice to KING 5’s television show, Band In Seattle. With two albums to their credit, a third is in the works. The group, which famously holds a regular Friday residence at Seattle’s Seamonster Lounge, is a family. The kind audiences can depend on.
F2D's latest single release, "Root Down", is available on Bandcamp, and can be streamed on YouTube and SoundCloud. Find their first two albums, "F2D in Stereo" and "Superdynamitefunkysoul" on all major purchasing and streaming sites.
f2dfunky2death.bandcamp.com
Life During Wartime
In the summer of 2013 a group of Portland, Oregon musicians got together around the love of Stop Making Sense (a Talking Heads concert film) which they consider to be the most brilliant concert of all time. Performing Stop Making Sense inspired them to write their own music. “There was so much funkiness, movement, and excitement to the music in that movie and we just knew it would get people excited and it felt fresh” says Lawrence Orleck, co-founder and singer in the band.
For LDW, every performance matters, and it’s that mantra that has the band in the studio recording their first album, Movement in a spirited manner. “We were so inspired by playing David Byrne’s music for 3 years that we found ourselves in the studio writing this album and it just naturally fit into our set. That’s our evolution and trajectory. But, yes, we still play a ton of talking heads because, plain and simple, it’s fun.” We named it Movement in a spirited manner because for the last 3 years we have been enthralled with the excitement and motion of our fans. They get down, big time.” Lawrence muses.
“We also thought it would be an incredible adventure to put together, periodically, the actual Stop Making Sense performance. It’s a concept that starts with ostensibly no stage setup and out comes David Byrne with a beatbox and and acoustic. The stage slowly builds to a full performance as the players and gear ebb onto the stage – until a mid-show climax with Byrne in a giant suit. It's great fun to honor the performance that was the nucleus for this project.”
The Gold Souls
The driving grooves of funk, rich textures of soul, and the compelling storytelling of the blues converge through The Gold Souls’ unique brand of boogie. Captivating lyrics tell modern tales, while fresh arrangements propel a classic sound, inspiring audiences everywhere with positive messages straight from the heart to the dance floor.
Led by the dynamic Juniper Waller, the group is made up of young talent hailing from the Bay and Sacramento areas and boasts the region's first all women horn section. With Alex Severson on the keys, Billy D. Thompson on the drums, Madison Armstrong on saxophone, Liliana Moore on trumpet, Kari Anne Estrada on trombone, Chris Paisley on guitar, and Avery Jeffry on bass, each member has a hand in writing and song composition, making The Gold Souls a truly collaborative effort.
Cytrus
In the world of music, the term “fusion” tends to raise eyebrows. Yet, the sonic explorers of Seattle octuplet Cytrus have spent the last three years crafting a debut that draws deftly from a broad melodic palette, melding distinct stylistic threads into a cohesive creative voice. Relax, and the grooves will flow through your soul. Concentrate, and you’ll find yourself tumbling through an immaculately constructed alternate reality when melody and rhythm dance hand in hand through spacetime.
Shaped by Jared Squires (guitar/vocals), Luke Nevills (bass/keys), Brandon Hailey (saxophone), Owen Mayo (keys/guitar), Trevor Church (drums), Alex Dean (synth/keys), Sean Connelly (vocals/keys), and Connor Merritt (aux percussion), Cytrus mines psychedelic funk, disco, electronic, rock, soul, hip-hop. Flowing through kaleidoscopic transitions, the band’s juicy synths and brass-powered grooves coalesce into an undeniable, hypnotic wall of sound.
Cytrus began when two Everett, WA bands found themselves mixing in the same shared rehearsal space. Finding they shared an ethos and approach to songcraft, Bunk Foss & HopSol merged, and Cytrus was born. The songs on Concentrate arose organically; some grew from sketches crafted by subgroups with the band where were then expanded upon in a full band setting. Others began as purely improvised sessions with the full octet which were later arranged. Yet all ultimately come from the conflux of individuality and collaboration.
Independently recorded at their rehearsal space, and mixed and mastered in-house, Concentrate is in every sense D.I.Y. In addition to the core group, the record features appearances byJason Cressey (trombone), Shyam Sunder Joseph Raja (tablas), and Connor Merritt (didgeridoo). After recording Concentrate, Merritt joined the band full time as auxiliary percussion player.
Thematically, the record charts the philosophical, emotional journey from darkness to light. Starting from blissful ignorance, we then grapple with a sense of irrelevance when faced with the enormity of reality. Undeterred, we vow to pursue the search for truth and purpose. Finally, at the nexus of spirituality and psychedelics, we find awakening. “Concentrate is a metaphor of the pursuit of happiness/fulfillment, which we all seek in our personal stories of life” explains Squires. “The “Juice” can be found at the end of that path, but many obstacles can and will stand in the way.”
Luna Melt
Hailing from Olympia, Washington, Luna Melt effortlessly blends elements of funk, soul, R&B, and jazz to create a unique sound that keeps audiences on their feet. Inspired by the likes of Herbie Hancock, the Brecker Brothers and Patti Labelle, Luna Melt puts their own modern twist on the classic funk sound. Their original compositions are filled with infectious hooks, catchy melodies, and tight horn arrangements that transport listeners back to the golden age of funk while also incorporating contemporary elements.
With their irresistible groove and undeniable charisma, Luna Melt is a force to be reckoned on the funk scene. Whether they're performing at intimate clubs or outdoor festivals, Luna Melt's magnetic energy and remarkable talent never fail to create an unforgettable experience. Stay tuned for the latest updates and releases from Luna Melt as they continue to spread their funk-infused magic worldwide. Get ready to melt into the groove with Luna Melt!
Dada Sonics
In the tumultuous landscape of modern music, where innovation often takes a back seat to familiarity, emerges Dada Sonics—a Pacific Northwest based juggernaut supergroup forged from The Get Down Funk Collective music series curated at The Get Down in Portland, Oregon.
With a nod to the avant-garde movement of the early 20th century, Dada Sonics challenges conventions with their fearless approach to composition and improvisational performance. Their music is a collision of ideas and influences, a kaleidoscope of sound that invites listeners to explore new realms of auditory experience.
Dada Sonics is not merely a band but a sonic manifesto—a declaration of independence from the ordinary, a celebration of the unpredictable, and a testament to the enduring power of artistic collaboration.
Comprising esteemed talents Jessica Lurie and Arne Livingston, acclaimed for their exploits with Living Daylights, alongside the visionary keystrokes of Galen Clark (Outer Orbit/Trio Subtonic) the electrifying guitar riffs of Tate Peterson (The Resolectrics), Dada Sonics stands as a testament to artistic exploration and sonic evolution.
Groove Lab
Groove Lab is an 8-piece instrumental funk band hailing from Olympia, WA boasting a hearty horn trio and powerhouse, locked-in rhythm section. This band has a way of getting you to move your feet, even when you didn't think you wanted to.
As true scientists, members of 'The Lab' are constantly experimenting with the sacred formulas of funk to provide you the freshest, grooviest, and most other worldly dance tunes curated and crafted, through science, specifically for the listener's pleasure.
You gotta catch one of these shows when they're in town to truly understand what these funky dudes are trying to share with their audience.
Big Kitty
Big Kitty is a brand new power-quartet featuring Ben Bloom, Jason Gray, Grant Schroff (Polyrhythmics, Unsinkable Heavies, Rippin’ Chicken) and Andy Coe (Andy Coe Band, McTuff). This band cooks up its own brand of funk/soul/psychedelia with plenty of style, swagger and BIG KITTY ENERGY. Come see this kitty purr…