Players are surely the most exciting Funk band in Britain today. They are aptly named. Mixing a 21st century attitude with cunning grooves and seasoned musicianship honed fromyears of experience, the band pay respect to the past but create music aimed at the future. In short, Players mix a fresh contemporary approach with music charmed by a nagging familiarity.
The band have already released one album. Their debut Clear The Decks from 2003 was an astonishing instrumental improvisation that set their manifesto. A tribute to Booker T And The MGs and The Meters, MOJO magazine called it, nothing less than extraordinary. A Hammond organ showcase, originally intended as a soundtrack to an unreleased British film, it contained such grandstanding tunes as Thank You Mr Porter, a warm fat groove, Exceeded Dosage, which combined the mod bluster of the Small Faces Collibosher with Santanas Soul Sacrifice and Kristabel, a gentle Bluenote era Jimmy Smith-esque piano and organ suite.
Its little surprise it was so good. After all, Players nucleus boasts an illustrious pedigree. Theres Mick Talbot, Hammond organ maestro, whos provided keys for Dexys Midnight Runners, The Bureau, The Style Council, and Galliano. Theres Steve White, talented sticksman whos played with the James Taylor Quartet and The Style Council and is Paul Wellers drummer. Finally theres Damon Minchella, the one time bassist with Ocean Colour Scene and a member of Paul Wellers current band along with Steve.
Damon explains the combos inception: Steve and I wanted to celebrate our mutual love of funk and soul and Mick was the obvious choice to get in on the act as he shared our appreciation of the groove. It was great fun in the studio recording that first Players album. We put everything down in one or two takes because we wanted to keep the spirit alive. For our second LP we wanted to do more of the same thing but take it a step further adding hip hop and a funky edge.
From The Six Corners also features the astounding vocal talent of Kelly Dickson whose raucous, funk delivery recalls that of Marlena Shaws on her late 60s Cadet jazz recordings. Having recorded a jazz album herself in New York and fronting the funk soul band, Mama Feelgood Kelly was already the consummate performer.
Says Mick Talbot: Players were performing in Leeds at The Wardrobe and Kelly was doing a set upstairs. After the soundcheck we had a bit of time to spare and Steve went to check her out. He came back enthusing.
Steve adds, I heard her before I saw her, this wonderful, massive voice and then as I turned the corner I was faced with this petite blonde standing there. I couldnt believe it. We got talking and I asked if shed be interested in teaming with us. She works hard. Shes got great energy. We all really clicked from the moment we entered the studio.
The album also contains the Papenfus brothers Ken and Carl, the former on guitar and vocals, the latter on percussion and vocals too.
Steve: They are in a band called Relish (whos last album went platinum in Ireland). Damon told us to check them out. I thought Ive seen it all before but went along anyhow and was blown away by their harmonies. Singing with Kelly, their vocals remind me of Crosby, Stills And Nash. They are that good! Kens also a great guitarist, he has a very fiery and immediate style and is not frightened to take a few chances.
The album, recorded at ex-Oasis bassist Guigsys studio in Londons Mill Hill, Miloco Studios and The Strong Room in East London - We begged, borrowed and stole studio time when we could, put it all together without a deal, our friends helped us out. It was a real organic process, we did everything ourselves from the bottom up, explains Steve it draws on a wide range of influences from New Orleans funk including Dr John and Lee Dorsey, George Clintons Parliament/ Funkadelic, Brit funk and hip hop.
Theres no rapping, Damon explains, but Im a real studio boffin. I collect old loops, slow them down, play around with them. Hence the track Liberation. I love the vocal passages from Outkasts original from their *Aquemini LP. Its got a great chorus, Steve did a great hip hop breakbeat and we played it over the top of our reworked vocals. It was our chance to get low down and dirty. No Big Deal and the opener, Whats Your Problem? fuses sampled loops with a double bass! Elsewhere they deliver the delicious Al Green styled ballad, Its Not Over Now, one of the bands favourites, plus the funky Find Your Way a cross between Jimi Hendrix and Curtis Mayfield, offers Damon. Little Things That Keep Us Together While The War Is Going On is a jazzy rewrite of the Scott Walker orchestration while the centrepiece, All The Good Things, one of two instrumentals on the album was inspired by the film City Of God. Steve and I went to see it in Chicago when we were there on tour with Paul Weller, explains Damon. We had a day off, it was freezing, about minus 20 degrees and in the cinema we were watching this film set in the hot Brazilian sunshine. We got out and immediately decided we had to write a track that felt like it should be on that soundtrack, and captured the heat and intensity of the film.
Its a great record, concludes Steve of the completed product. Were all really proud of it. Its a real antidote to the dull, prosaic rock that pervades the charts at the moment. We want to get out there and play the album live, give our listeners an excuse for a good night out, get them dressed up, on the dancefloor, having a great time rather than stood there still scratching their chins.
Theres no question that on the strength of From The Six Corners thats exactly what theyll do.
contact: matt.cook@theplayerslounge.com
