YBS (Yates Brothers & Sisters Band)
Featuring members of The Family Stone
YBS are coming back by popular request, especially in Europe where their albums have now become collectors' items. Any true funk lover and music appreciator who was listening to good grooves back in the late 70's and early 80's should have a reason to be excited about this news. Not only are the band back on stage together again (and now with Grammy performing members of The Family Stone in the band), but they're getting a new album ready to be released.
The musicians in the band have by no means stopped playing over the years, they have simply been in constant demand as session players as well as being active members of Sly and The Family Stone. You could say that they are a super group of players you might expect to be playing on the next "Thriller" album....
If you want to "feel the good times" and hear the real deal, groovy, funkified funk, then make a point of looking out for YBS and their new album, or for now perhaps revisit some of these songs from their album "Electricity":
Electricity
I'm The One Who Loves You
Shake and Groove It
Stick In The Mud
All Songs are from the YBS albums Electricity (1982) and YBS (!978). Ariola/BMG.
The Cherry Boppers are a blast from the past, they are truly funkafied, and they are ready to funk you up!!!
After listening to their music you would imagine a band with afros and oversized shades!!! Who would have guessed the musicians to be from Europe, let alone Spain!!! They are on a mission, a quest, a funk revival...
These groovy funkers just got off the most prestigious stages of some of the largest jazz festivals in Europe. They have played everywhere from Barcelona to Munich and won the music contest "Villa de Bilbao 07" in the "Best Live Show" category.
Their first album "Dressin the Puppet" was well received by the European audiences, the content mostly covers of the great masters (James Brown, Lou Donaldson, Grant Green...).
The prestigious European funk label "Enlace Funk" released their first single Black Lolita on 7" Vinyl (Watermelon Man on the B side) and made it to the record players of many funk lovers throughout Europe. Below we have added both tracks from the single in Mp3 format, otherwise only available on Vinyl.
In the summer of 2007 they opened for Sly and The Family Stone at one of the most prestigious jazz festivals in Europe, San Sebastian's International Jazz Festival (Jazzaldia, San Sebastian) where other musical icons also played including Pat Matheny, Issac Hayes, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Popa Chubby, Elvis Costello, Neneh Cherry, etc... We at PlayItLoudMusic
were there to see The Cherry Boppers lay down their groove and get funky, and rest assured they did not dissapoint!!!
“Play It Again!” will be the title of their second album, to be released in Autumn 2008. The album has the collaboration of blues icon, guitarist Javier Vargas (Vargas Blues Band). They in turn appear alongside Devon Allman, Raimundo Amador, and Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush) as collaborators in “Flamenco Blues Experience”, Vargas latest project, available in stores now.
Listen for yourselves and see if you can resist getting down and groovin to da funk!!!
For Broadcast Quality Download check out:
For the bands EPK click here
Phat Fred
If you haven't yet heard Phat Fred then maybe it's time to get the groove on and check them out!!!
The band is based in Barcelona, and like the city, it's very cosmopoiitan. Members come from different corners of the globe..... England, Argentina, Spain.... but mostly Planet Funk!!!
There's no foolin' around with Phat Fred, this is pure groove at it's best!!! The lyrical content is straight to the point and is there just to enhance the funk, no tongue twisters or hidden messages to be discovered, just purely funky good times. Take one listen to "Yo Mama" or " I Turned You On" and you'll be singing along no matter what your native tongue is......
The band is signed to Hammondbeat Records (USA) and P-Vine (Japan). "Don't Spoil The Soup" is the band's current release, and in February 2008 they will be releasing their first live album, an album that captures material from a recent mini tour of Denmark. Also later in 2008 there will be a new studio album in the stores.
"Don't Spoil The Soup" certainly shows their expertise in the field of funk and will get you movin' to the groovin'. The album isn't about making soloists shine rather it's about the music they create as a whole -- and with the music comes great solos!!!!
Phat Freds live show is an energetic, musical, and visual interpretation of the songs from their album plus a whole bunch more.... the shows have been referred to as "Off the Wall" and "Zapparesque". They are a mixture of heavy funk grooves mixed with jazz rock and psychodelia that will leave nobody seated and everybody gettin' down on the dance floor...!!!
The band have played at numerous festivals throughout Europe and toured extensively in Spain. They have been featured on a number of compilation albums that have reached both North Americans as well as Asians, such as "Tower Record's Groove Party", "Groovadelia", and "Soul Shaker Vol. 3". A few of the festivals they have performed at are "Festival de Jazz - Reus" (Spain), "Terassa Jazz Festival" (Spain), "Jazz a Luz Festival '07" (France), "Festus 2006" (Spain), "Club Mondo" (Spain), "Jamboree" (Spain), and many more.
Now take a listen:
Stay On The Groove
I Turned You On
Yo Mama
All Songs By Phat Fred 2006 under exclusive license worldwide to Hammondbeat Records.