Trio Subtonic: Fiction
I can tell y’all are getting antsy, so I’ve got some of that groovy shit to keep you moving this week. First up is a great new discovery that I’m sure you’re going to love: Trio Subtonic. This is your classic keys/bass/drums trio and their new album Fiction (out on Ropeadope) is a funky delight that is strongly reminiscent of old school MMW and Benevento Russo Duo. Each track shows off the Portland, Oregon-based trio’s individual talents as well as their tight ensemble playing, providing ample reason to bob your head, tap your feet or, should the feeling strike, get out of your seat and start to boogie. This one’s spent a long time in the rotation, I really dig it and hope you do too.
The Bongolian: Moog Maximus
No, no, don’t sit back down just yet! I’ve got just the thing to keep those feet moving and the late summer party going. Are you yet hip to The Bongolian? No? Well, check out the nasty boogaloo of his newest creation, Moog Maximus. There is nothing about this album that isn’t F-U-N-K-Y funky: delicious grooves, sweet breakdowns and plenty of singalong boogie-down. Big Boss Man frontman Nasser Bouzida, whose solo alter-ego is The Bongolian, has outdone himself with a record that is sure to put a smile on your face. Enjoy!
Jeff Parker: The New Breed
Finally, for something a little more experimental but no less groovy, I’ve got the new one from Jeff Parker, guitarist from Tortoise and beyond. His new solo record is The New Breed, a revelatory twist-up of jazz, hip-hop and slithery grooves. Parker’s music is incredibly organic. It takes its time getting to where it’s going and finds plenty of understated funkiness along the way. This is the kind of record someone has on in the background at a party that forces you to excuse yourself mid-conversation to figure out just what is this. There’s a lot going on in this one, all of it good, so don’t delay: no time like the present to get your toes tapping.
