| | Papa Grows Funk
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Building momentum is exactly what Papa Grows Funk has done since tearing it up at the original Meters after party November 11, 2000 in San Francisco. Seven years later they have sold 25, 000 copies of their four CDs while year round, coast-to-coast, international tours-including Europe and Japan-have locked in a devoted fan base.
Papa Grows Funk's tight grooves re-define the funk-jam band. Tethered by the slinky Hammond B3 and gravel pit vocals of bandleader John "Papa" Gros," the band is a "who's-who" of New Orleans' best musicians. Morphing guitarist June Yamagishi is an original member of Japan's first blues combo, The West Road Blues Band and has inspired two documentaries entitled "June Yamagishi in New Orleans" from his native Japan. Saxophonist Jason "Big Wind" Mingledorff cleanly articulates the knee-dropping funk sustained by bassist Marc Pero and Jeffrey "Jellybean" Alexander who replaced Russell Batiste Jr. on the drums in 2005.
Influenced by The Meters, Dr. John and The Neville Brothers, Papa Grows Funk parcels it out New Orleans-style, paying homage to the tradition through Gros' sparse but rhythmic style offset by Yamagishi's blazing guitar. One is treated to a booty shaking set of Mardi Gras funk, original material, improvised jams and fresh interpretations of New Orleans classics. These five musicians seamlessly shift gears while never losing the essential groove. | |
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