SoulJazz Orchestra: The Horseshoe

[SmoothedShredder]

[blurb]Tonight, Friday Jan.12th, performing a James Brown Inspired funk set at the HorseShoe Tavern, will be Ottawa's own SoulJazz Orchestra. Also joining SoulJazz will be Toronto's: Elastocitizens! I haven't seen them perform, but caught them on Speakers Corner promoing the show with some smooth Acapella Funk. And by the looks of thier YouTube promo, they got a big freaky, and funky show in the vein of P-Funk... should be fun! Wha more do you want?[/blurb]

SoulJazz Bio

Since 2002, the Ottawa-based band has been keeping the classic sounds of raw, gritty groove alive and well in Canada. Their style combines jazz, funk, African and Latin music with messages touching on politics and spirituality.

The blaring horns, retro keyboards and polyrhythmic beats show the influence of James Brown, Herbie Hancock, Fela Kuti and Tito Puente, but the sound remains refreshingly original. Their stylistic variety is in part due to the diverse musical backgrounds of the band’s individual members : jazz, funk, blues, reggae, classical, and traditional Cuban, Brazilian and West African percussion.

The Souljazz Orchestra has had the chance to collaborate with notable artists such as Beautiful Nubia and Mighty Popo, and has opened up for Etta James, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, John Lee Hooker Jr., The Sadies, Fred Eaglesmith, and more. The band has appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Blues Festival, and the Ottawa Tulip Festival.

The Souljazz Orchestra released their second album, Freedom No Go Die, in September of 2006. This high-energy release focuses mainly on afrobeat music, and features the vocal stylings of Mighty Popo, Alanna Stuart and Marielle Rivard. The album is already creating quite a stir in the dancefloor jazz scene, prompting legendary DJ Gilles Peterson from BBC Radio 1 to enthuse, "That's made for music, that is!" Exclaim! Magazine went on to state that "the Ottawa quintet […] craft a sound as tight as the power fists that adorn the cover. Songs of resistance, revolution and positivity in the best of the afrobeat tradition.†The album is soon to be re-released worldwide through Do Right! Music, a Toronto-based label showcasing Canada’s best new jazz, funk, hip-hop and electronic music.

The Souljazz Orchestra's all-original debut album, Uprooted, was released in April of 2005, also to critical acclaim. The Ottawa Fulcrum stated that the album "captures the energy and bounce that is characteristic of their live show" and that it is "definitely an all-around feel-good album, in that James Brown kinda way", while the Ottawa Sun noted that the band "lend itself equally well to afrobeat, modern jazz or JBs-style funk".

Both releases have received worldwide airplay, mostly through public and campus radio, topping many Canadian station charts at #1.

SoulJazz Orchestra Website

Elastocitizens Website

[Jay Funk Dawg]

I really enjoyed SoulJazz's vibe... good times indeed!

[SteveThe Owl]

If you're in Toronto and can't get to Ottawa for nero tonight, go see this SoulJazz.

Awesome. :thumbup: :thumbup:

[bradm]

Go see them. Go listen to them. Go dance to them. Buy their records.

Aloha,

Brad

[SteveThe Owl]

Go see them. Go listen to them. Go dance to them. Buy their records.

But I'm gonna be in Ottawa for nero... Oh, sorry. That one wasn't for me.

Seriously, bradm's absolutely right. This is an awesome band and they deserve your love and support

[SmoothedShredder]

Wow! Neat show last night! SoulJazz opened to a half empty room, and finished to a roaring appreciative crowd who had filled the dance floor (and effectively collapsed the "Toronto Bubble")who called the Band back out for an encore.

Heard some good news from the Boys. Seems like they have a top 10 single in the UK, and they are making the arrangements to go over there and tour... hopefully sometime in 2007. Their New Album "Freedom No Go Die" is stellar! And they are probably right now as I'm typing this, finishing up their Photo Shoot with Now Magazine. Seems like they will be on the cover preceeding their next show Feb. 24th at the Rivoli. I knew these guys were good, but I think EVERYBODY is good (except the Leafs!)... anyways, I'm just so happy cause these are some big, exciting steps for a band, and it couldn't be happening to a nicer group of guys.

So, Souljazz finally leave the stage for the Elastocitizens to take over! Eye-Candy Over the Top Funk-Rock... (The rock was provided by a guitar player who dipped into the odd power chord and country slide solo). Horns, Keys, a Monster drummer (hidden in the back), a bevvy of Barkers Beauties singing, chorus lining, rapping, and just looking good up front (side note: I can't confirm this, but I'm 90% sure that the girl in the purple on the left of the stage was the actor who played the Lesbian character on Train 48!! Fuck yeah!)... and it was all lead by the "Grand Pubah of Funk", who was part Tinsel Jesus, part Elvis, part Mick Jagger, part Ace Freshley, part George Clinton...

This show was definately an "I was there" moment! Great entertainment... one Hot Night!

[bouche]

mista president is #9 on Gilles Peterson's list for 2006 from BBC.

That's definately something for them to totally celebrate and take full advantage of