LUCKY BROWN & THE S.G.'s: LABOR DAY WEEKEND RUN

Lucky Brown & Cecil Moses & The S.G.'s present:
LUCKY BROWN & THE S.G.'s: LABOR DAY WEEKEND RUN

The mysterious Cecil Moses & The S.G.'s (Oliver Klomp - drums, Colin Higgins - guitar, Bob Heinemann - bass, and Marc Hager - keys) unite with deep funk pioneer Lucky Brown to interpret Lucky's original "Mesquite Suite" live, a collection of spiritual folk/jazz modal melodics fused with earthy and arcane rhythmics composed in the summer of 2015 in an ashram in the Texas Hill Country.

The S.G.s will feature their own brand of great quartet instrumental soul ala Booker T. & The M.G.'s and The Meters, then Lucky Brown, along with Jason Cressey - trombone, will proceed to transport all listeners into an sonic trance inspired as much by Mulatu Astatke as it is James Brown.

Thursday, Sep. 1 - "CONCERTS ON THE DOCK"
Pope Marine Park Plaza, Port Townsend 5 - 7:30PM

Friday, Sep. 2 - CELLAR DOOR, Port Townsend, 9PM

Saturday, Sep. 3 - w/ TRIO SUBTONIC, SEAMONSTER LOUNGE, Wallingford, 9PM

Sunday, Sep. 4 - PARLIAMENT TAVERN, West Seattle, 9PM

WESTSOUND REUNION 2016

Short Statement:

Seattle, WA. Wednesday, May 11th, 2016, Nectar Lounge - The Westsound Reunion is an annual event held on or near the second weekend of May to assemble and celebrate the work and works of members of the Westsound Recording Cooperative, also known as The Westsound Union.

This collective of musicians perform and improvise over original, rudimentary and minimalist works conceived by Lucky Brown, the soulfunk alterego of Joel Ricci, itinerant composer, trumpet player, and metaphysicist. These 'tunes' are offered as vehicles for the various individual interpretations by the artists of the union, while simultaneously presenting in performance a reflection of a functioning and flourishing collective ecstatic ceremony/ritual.

Longer Statement:

Seattle, WA. Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 - Lucky Brown & The Westsound Union, a collective of funk, soul, rhythm & blues, and jazz musicians from the greater West Seattle area are descending upon their fifth annual Westsound Reunion at Fremont's Nectar Lounge. The Westsound Union is the group of musicians whose members work in various dance band and roots rhythm projects around Seattle including but not limited to Polyrhythmics, The Funk Revolution, Rippin' Chicken, The Unsinkable Heavies, Cecil Moses & The S.G.'s, and The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra. http://westsound.bandcamp.com

More specifically, The Westsound Union is a culture creator that attracts a musician who uses their talents to explore, seek, grow, push limits, experiment and above all continue the search for a new groove, a new tone, and a new feeling.

Since 2007, their label, Westsound Recording Cooperative, has been licensing original music to Tramp Records, a boutique European deepfunk tastemaker specializing in vinyl re-issues of little-known global soul, funk, jazz and R&B artists. This summer, the collective will launch "I Believe in Love," a new and exciting collaboration with Polyrhythmics.

Lucky Brown has been called "Deep Funk Pioneer" by many a maven in Europe, a title that can be applied to all the members of The Westsound Union. Folks who come out to this show can be assured that the particular combinations of people, sounds, rhythms, moods, and moves may have never happened before, and will never happen again - until maybe next year's Westsound Reunion!

It is Lucky Brown's intention to entertain, demonstrate, and humbly explore the funk idiom handed down from artist to artist in an unbroken lineage that has it's source with the revolutionary innovations of James Brown among others. The Westsound Union also draws inspiration from (while paying homage to) such luminous artists as Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, Mulatu Astake and their respective disciples, who, among many others, gave birth, breath and breadth to this powerful form.

The Westsound Union strives to faithfully continue the conversation and evoke the participation of a gathering of like and different minded individuals who also hunger for authenticity, integrity, truth, and freedom of self expression through music, speech and body movement.

Statement about the participants:

Unsinkable Heavies: Reunion staples, the Heavies will be returning to offer their particular brand of musical alchemy at this year's Westsound Reunion! Come join members of Polyrhythmics as they weave you a web of sonic silk and dazzle you with their licks!DJ Dave McRaw: Eminent drummer for soul phenoms The True Loves, Dr. David McGraw selects an all 45rpm vinyl freestyle set from the cream of his collection for your pleasure.

Lucky Brown & His Band: Lucky will assemble the group that has been doing a steady 'Last Wednesday' residency at the Seamonster Lounge in Wallingford for the past five months, and then conduct the band (and the audience) as they plumb the depths of rhythm, vibe, mode, mood, groove, spirit and soul collectively.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio: A unique 60's & 70's true-school vintage soul trio with the delicious sonority of the hammond B3 mixed with lilting guitar lines, chopping rhythm, & old school style pocket drumming. This combo is gently tearing up the town and can be described in one word: Taste.

The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra: Will present for the first time since last year on stage current and new members of the Westsound Union performing simultaneously all brand new compositions written by Lucky Brown while living just outside of Austin, Texas last summer.

2/24/16 - WESTSOUND DEEP FUNK CLUB III - SEAMONSTER LOUNGE

Wednesday, February 24th 8PM

Sea Monster Lounge

2202 N45TH ST,

Seattle, Washington 98103

www.seamonsterlounge.com

SELECTOR LUCKY BROWN 8PM

WESTSOUND UNION 10PM

WSDFC is a monthly "Last Wednesday" residency at The SeaMonster Lounge in Wallingford, regarded by Seattle musicians as THE venue for listening and performing.

The Westsound Union are a collective of musicians who perform and improvise over original, rudimentary and minimalist works conceived by Lucky Brown, the soulfunk alter ego of Joel Ricci, itinerant composer, trumpet player, and metaphysicist. These 'tunes' are offered as vehicles for the various individual interpretations by the artists of the Westsound Union, while simultaneously presenting a reflection of a functioning and flourishing collective ecstatic ceremony/ritual.

It is the intention of the founders of the Westsound Deep Funk Club to entertain, demonstrate, and humbly explore the funk idiom handed down from artist to artist in an unbroken lineage that has it's source with the revolutionary innovations of James Brown. The Westsound Union also draws inspiration from (while paying homage to) such luminous artists as Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, Mulatu Astake and their respective followers, who, among many others, gave birth, breath and breadth to this powerful form.

We strive to faithfully continue the conversation and evoke the participation of a gathering of like and different minded individuals who also hunger for authenticity, truth, and freedom of self expression through music, speech and body movement.

WESTSOUND REUNION 2015

FRIDAY, MAY 8th, NECTAR LOUNGE, SEATTLE 

www.nectarlounge.com

Nectar & The Westsound Union Present:

The WESTSOUND REUNION 2015 

"Seattle's Sensational SoulFunk Festival of Deep Expectation!"

Featuring The Original International ArtFunk Supergroup of Mystery: 

LUCKY BROWN & THE WESTSOUND UNION -"now with more drums"

with The Premier Afro-Psycho-Beat Octagon Itself: POLYRHYTHMICS

and Trueschool SoulJazz Boogaloo Rhythm Sectioneers: UNSINKABLE HEAVIES

a.k.a. The Trophybucks & The Horseradish 3 (among others): THE MYSTERY 3

plus Seattle's Realest Raw Soul Royalty: GRACE LOVE & THE TRUE LOVES

also 45RPM Deejays FUNKSCRIBE & DAVE McRAW in the breaks!

So Many Friends! So Many Bands! So Much Vinyl! 

This is a DANCE, CONCERT, PARTY, FESTIVAL, and SHOW 

that only happens ONCE A YEAR so Please 

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! $10 advance/$15 at the door

Brand New Raw Funk 45s Box Sets, & LPs for sale in limited quantities!

Seattle, WA. May 8th, 2015 - Lucky Brown & Friends, a posse of Funk, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Jazz and Afrobeat musicians from the Seattle area are descending upon their fourth annual Westsound Reunion at Fremont's Nectar Lounge. The Westsound Union is an umbrella name given to the group of musicians whose members work in various groove-oriented projects around seattle including The Polyrhythmics, Rippin' Chicken, The Unsinkable Heavies, The Bucks, and The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra. More specifically, The Westsound Union attracts a musician who wants to straddle genre lines while exploring, seeking, growing, pushing limits, experimenting and above all continuing the search for a new groove, a new tone, and a new feeling.

Through his label Westsound Recording Company, Lucky Brown has been licensing original music to Tramp Records, a boutique European deep funk label specializing in vinyl re-issues of little-known soul, funk, jazz and rhythm and blues giants, since 2007. At the May 8th show, we will announce the release of 'Mystery Road' a two-LP set AND a seven-piece 45RPM box set that features superlative musicians from the Westsound Union. These records will only be available for purchase in the United States during this festival at Nectar Lounge.

Lucky Brown has been called a 'Deep Funk Pioneer" by many a maven in Europe, a title that can be applied to all the members of The Westsound Union. Folks who come out to this show can be assured that the combinations of people, sounds, rhythms, moods, and moves have never happened before, and will never happen again - until maybe next year's Westsound Reunion.

Here is a little about each participating group:
Grace Love & The True Loves: Grace possesses a completely captivating vocal experience that is all her own. Her band, the True Loves, has a soul and funk sound altogether unique to the Pacific Northwest. The True Loves provide a kickin' back beat, smart horns, melodic, syncopated guitar and bass, and sweet Hammond B-3 color. It's the hip swinging, booty shaking, heart freeing, soul healing sound you crave to hear live.

The Mystery 3: The many-named Mystery 3 are Seattle drum veteran Ollie Klomp, Cornish graduate Jason Gray on bass, and illustrious guitar boss Ben Bloom. They have been working with Lucky Brown in various projects live and on tape for almost 10 years now. Tonight they will be performing selections from Lucky's deep catalog of vocal and instrumental classics.

Unsinkable Heavies: Unsinkable Heavies will be returning to perform their brand of funked-up musical alchemy at this year's Westsound Reunion! Come join members of Polyrhythmics as they weave you a web of sonic silk and dazzle you with their licks.

Polyrhythmics: Original hard-driving, modern afro-beat and syncopated, horn-driven funk. Catch the Octagon hot off their return from New Orleans with an inimitable live show and great new vinyl 45s and LPs! Sing along with Lucky Brown as he sings his hits with them!

Lucky Brown & The Westsound Union: Lucky will assemble as many members of the Westsound Union on the Nectar stage as he can fit, and then conduct the orchestra and the audience as they plumb the funky depths of rhythm, vibe, mode, mood, groove, spirit and soul collectively.

MYSTERY ROAD - Out worldwide on Tramp Records, January 26th, 2015

So much classic music is sweet and raw, while so much music from today sounds boring, overproduced and drained of life-force, why is this? Possibly because most music in the popular arena is made on computers, written by songwriting firms for a 'personality' to mime on stage and in studio, and created with the intention of making a profit. Young musicians influenced by the glitz and glamour of the mass market literally 'play' right into the corporations' hands - gleefully mimicking the poses, the sentiments, and reinforcing the antisocial values of the plutocracy. Lucky Brown believes that beauty is not contained in the sound of the music but lives in the hearts of the musicians. Therefore, music made by people who love music and want to build a better world sounds different from music produced by corporations.

Until the advent of the industrial revolution, popular music was produced by regular people - the populace, get it? Songs were written, played and recorded by people in a neighborhood. Music had meaning and purpose. The music was handed down from the elders in the same way as cooking, seeds, stories, building techniques, and values were; with each generation subtly manipulating the form to fit the needs of their communities and place in time. Lucky Brown is concerned about the wholesale destruction and loss of this rich cultural heritage. To put a price tag on everything and then force feed it into the waste machine degrades both the consumer and the producer. Beautiful songs do exist. You can write one yourself or find one tucked away in a dusty bin of 45s, but until we unlock the secrets of this classic music, our sonic landscape will likely be blighted by the mass homogeneity heard everywhere.

When you hear american funk, soul, r&b, jazz, blues, and rock n' roll from the late 60s and early 70s you may be hit with emotions of pleasure, joy and awe. How can the people of today produce music with such energy, urgency and soul? Certainly not by copying, and certainly not by sequestering this music away in a museum. Record diggers know in their heart that true beauty is a rarity, and therefore worth preserving and protecting, why else would rare seven-inch pieces of vinyl fetch so much money at auction? Lucky Brown takes it one step further and through his music, points to artists who's soul and fire is a gift dedicated to all people. Lucky Brown's work with deep funk is the result of his group's quest, a specific example of exploration in this field - not intended as a copy, but hopefully as encouragement to other musicians of like mind to continue the search.

Lucky Brown and his friends play music together on a carpet in the living room. They record to a portable tape machine situated in or near a kitchen because most of this music was recorded after a shared meal. Much of this album is the record of the musicians playing or creating the song for the first time together - listening to and communicating with each other. Searching for a beautiful feeling that has not yet been invented. As his thirst for authenticity remains unquenched, Lucky Brown's journey transcends limitations of time, space, subject or object.

This music is just dust brushed from a buried treasure box we discovered in our hearts.

link:
link:

LUCKY BROWN'S WESTSOUND REUNION 2014 - OLYMPIA/SEATTLE/BELLINGHAM

Lucky Brown returns to the Pacific Northwest this spring for his annual multi-day, multi-city, multi-venue birthday party known as The Westsound Reunion! The Westsound Reunion is an opportunity for all the members of Lucky Brown's Pacific Northwest Deep Funk Community to come together and have a good old-fashioned festival, dance party, concert and show. The Westsound Reunion is also an opportunity for the different groups to share their new 45s and other recordings.  Expect rhythmic exploration, harmonic surprises and deep dark heavy danceable grooves - as well as favorite original Lucky Brown compositions. The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra will present for the first time since last year on stage all current members of the Westsound Union performing at the same time.

This year, the seven-day event will begin Wednesday, May 7th in Seattle at the Feedback Lounge and travel to Rhythm and Rye in Olympia on Thursday, May 8th, Nectar Lounge on Friday, May 9th, Fairhaven Pub on Saturday, May 10th to The Watershed Pub and Kitchen on Sunday, May 11th, round out with some  jamming at the Musiquarium in Seattle and finishing with "The Westsound Wind-Down" at Seamonster Club in Wallingford on Tuesday evening just before McTuff plays on May 13th. You know it's not a party unless each and every one of you come down and make it a party! 

Here is information about some of the different groups: 

The Funk Revolution - Delvon Lamarr, Ben Bloom, Ollie Klomp, Thomas Deakin, Mars Lindgren and Lucky Brown himself.

The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra - an art-funk supergroup fusing members of Polyrhythmics with original members of Lucky Brown's Band. 

Delvon Lamarr, Ben Bloom & Ollie Klomp's true-school funk trio: Rippin' Chicken.

Bloom's soul-jazz unit - representing the rhythm section from Polyrhythmics: Unsinkable Heavies.

West Seattle soulfunk family: The Vexations

Lucky Brown's modal improvised rhythm combo: The Modes

Lucky Brown's songwriter/soul outfit The Bucks.

And fresh from Jazz Fest New Orleans, Seattle's Deep Funk darlings themselves: Polyrhythmics!

LUCKY BROWN'S WESTSOUND REUNION 2014:

Wednesday, May 7th, 8PM
FEEDBACK LOUNGE
6451 California Ave SW, WEST SEATTLE

Thursday, May 8th, 9PM
RHYTHM & RYE 
311 Capitol Way, OLYMPIA

Friday, May 9th, 8PM
NECTAR LOUNGE
412 N 36th St, FREMONT

Saturday, May 10th, 8PM
FAIRHAVEN PUB 
1114 Harris Ave, FAIRHAVEN

Sunday, May 11th, 8PM
WATERSHED PUB & KITCHEN
10104 3rd Ave NE, SEATTLE

Monday, May 12th, 8PM
TRIPLE DOOR MUSIQUARIUM
216 Union Street, SEATTLE

Tuesday, May 13th, 7-10PM
SEAMONSTER LOUNGE
2202 N 45th St.  SEATTLE

Thank you for participating and spreading the word!!
listen and explore here and here

WESTSOUND REUNION 2013

Lucky Brown returns to the Pacific Northwest this spring for his annual multi-day, multi-city, multi-venue birthday party known as The Westsound Reunion! The Westsound Reunion is an opportunity for all the members of Lucky Brown's (aka Joel Ricci's) Pacific Northwest Deep Funk Community to come together and have a good old-fashioned festival, dance party, concert and show.  The Westsound Reunion is also an opportunity for the different groups to share their new 45s and other recordings.  Expect rhythmic exploration, harmonic surprises and deep dark heavy danceable grooves. The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra will present for the first time on stage all current members of the Westsound Union performing at the same time.

This year, the two-day event will be held Friday, May 10th in Seattle at Nectar Lounge & May 11th at Wild Buffalo, Bellingham. 

Both events will feature The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra - an art-funk supergroup fusing members of Polyrhythmics with original members of Lucky Brown's Band. 

Delvon Lamarr, Ben Bloom & Ollie Klomp's true-school funk trio: Rippin' Chicken.

Bloom's soul-jazz unit - representing the rhythm section for Polyrhythmics: Unsinkable Heavies.

And warming it up will be Lucky Brown's songwriter/soul outfit The Bucks.

A special treat for the Seattle show will be DJ Izzy*Wise in the breaks. Isaac Weiser is an original member of Lucky Brown's Funk Revolution, he will be flying in from his home in San Francisco.

And for the Bellinghamsters, a special set by Seattle's Deep Funk Darlings themselves: Polyrhythmics!

here are the details:

THE WESTSOUND REUNION:

FRIDAY, MAY 10th

NECTAR LOUNGE, SEATTLE 

$8/adv $12/dos [tickets]

Doors 8PM

www.nectarlounge.com

SATURDAY, MAY 11th

WILD BUFFALO, BELLINGHAM

$8/adv $10/dos [tickets]

Doors 8PM

www.wildbuffalo.net

Westsound Recording Co.

Dear lovers of original raw funk soul rhythm blues and jazz,
Thank you so much for your continued support over the years. We are proud to announce the launch of our official "Bandcamp" website. Please come on over and check out some tracks that you may not have heard yet. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them. May your new year of 2013 be blessed and prosperous!

Love,
Lucky Brown & Co.

LUCKY BROWN & THE BUCKS Fall Roadtrip 2012

*EXPERIMENTAL RAW SOUL*DEEP FUNK*ROOTS R&B*RHYTHMIC EXPLORATION


Fall is officially here and we are proud to announce that THE BUCKS will be roaming the upper I5 corridor weekend before halloween!

B'HAM - FRIDAY, OCT. 19th, WILD BUFFALO (FREE SHOW!)
SEATTLE - SATURDAY, OCT. 20th, THE ROYAL ROOM


Featuring Ben Bloom, Jason Gray, Ollie Klomp, and Nathan Spicer!

WEST SEATTLE SOUL

The Soul of West Seattle.
Connect to become a part of the burgeoning Funk, Soul, Afrobeat, Improvised, and Rhythmic music community of West Seattle.

Our mission is to unite and promote the Soulful Arts, Music, and Lifestyle of West Seattle.Connect on Facebook

THE WESTSOUND REUNION

The Westsound Reunion is an annual multi-city, multi-venue event held
around Joel Ricci's birth weekend as an opportunity for all the
members of Lucky Brown's (aka Joel Ricci's) Pacific Northwest Deep
Funk Community to come together and have a good old-fashioned jam
session, dance party, concert and show. Expect rhythmic exploration,
harmonic surprises and deep dark heavy danceable grooves. Deep Funk is
a term we use to describe the sound and blend of funk, soul, roots
R&B, Afro-beat and jazz music, With heavy emphasis on rhythm and
interplay between all the musicians. The Westsound Reunion is also an
opportunity for the different groups to show off and sell their new
45s and other recordings.

This year, the two-day event will be held the weekend of May 11th.
Friday, May 11th in Seattle at Nectar Lounge featuring Seattle's
psychedelic Afro-Funk Triceratops "The Polyrhythmics" with Lucky Brown
himself, and Ben Bloom's soul-jazz unit: "The Unsinkable Heavies."
On May 12th at The New Green Frog with Lucky Brown & The Bucks and
Delvon Lamarr's new true-school funk combo: Rippin' Chicken.

Finally, we are also celebrating Joel Ricci's imminent 7-week tour
with North-Hollywood based funk band Orgone. Therefore Lucky Brown
won't do another party in town 'til deep in the summer.

DEAR PORTLAND

You are a very soulful city with a richness of art, music, culture, food, and scenery unmatched on this tiny planet. We truly love you Portland. I am proud to say that I found the love of my life in you. And though I no longer abide beneath your cloudy blanket of sky, I often think of you. And I am really hoping I can show my love to your people who will turn out in packs for this one-time-only deep funk and soul dance and show at the Alberta Rose Theatre THIS THURSDAY APRIL 19th!!

Always,
~Lucky

www.albertarosetheatre.com
www.souldoutfestival.com

DEEP FUNK DOUBLE NIGHTER! Glacier, WA

Not one, but TWO amazing afterparties for the Legendary Banked Slalom Festival held at Mount Baker Feb 9th-11th 2012. When the winter sports enthusiasts wanna relax after a hard day on the slopes, they call in Lucky Brown & The Bucks to provide the live deep funk soundtrack for a mountain-town rager, Glacier style!

ORGONE

On tour now as half of the horn section for North Hollywood Funk Band, and Ubiquity recording artists: ORGONE. check them out:

www.orgonespace.com

Lucky Brown & The Bucks

When songwriter, producer, conductor, recording and performing artist Joel Ricci discovered Tramp Records, a German label specializing in Deep Funk 45s, he immediately flew across the Atlantic to shake hands with the man that is counted among the German guard at the forefront of the current worldwide Deep Funk movement. Lucky Brown was born and a licensing deal was penned. Fast forward 5 years; with five international funk compilations, eight 45RPM releases, and two full length studio albums under his hat, "Deep Funk Pioneer" Lucky Brown returns with his new thing: The Bucks, an experiment with a stripped-down-to-a-4-piece, West Seattle Soul concept.

Lucky Brown's aim is to become a clearer channel for inspiration to flow to, from, and through the heart of the omniverse, and the individual. The current experience is a rhythmic journey across time and space lead by the capital 'H' Heart. After The Bucks cleanse the sonic and psychic space with an old Lucky 7 tune; "Clean Break", Lucky Brown appears to say hello to your heart again forever with a new tune written specifically for this presentation; "Been Too Long." Brown then takes gentle control and guides a collective "Space Dream" coming back to find "This World Has Changed" and finishing with the whole venue chanting the refrain from Lucky's anthem: "I Believe in Love."

The Bucks proudly employs two members of Seattle's all-original instrumental true-school psychedelic afro-funk triceratops: The Polyrhythmics

Lucky Brown, Trumpet, Flute, Vocals, Perc.
Olli Klomp, Drums
Jason Gray, Bass
Ben Bloom, Guitar

LUCKY BROWN'S SPACE DREAM out April 18th 2011

LUCKY BROWN’S SPACE DREAM

I dreamed of making my own Funk 45. As an artist, I of course wanted the music to be experienced and heard in the same active, soulful way in which it was made. Or maybe I wanted to leave a mark, some kind of legacy, something lasting, permanent, a monument of my dream of this Earth. Perhaps some future digger would unearth my record and the message of the music could be carried across time. Would people of the future dance to my record? Perhaps I wanted to make a 45 as my humble tribute to the great artists I discovered and was inspired by when I dropped the needle on a long-forgotten but interesting dusty old platter. I know it seems strange that as an American, I had to turn first to German artists to find my way back to my own roots. Through my interest in the various incarnations of the great Poets Of Rhythm, I discovered Tramp Records, who had been granted the right to release later Poets tracks as its first handful of releases. I immediately made it my mission to meet the man behind the label and share with him my love for deep original raw funk.

After a whirlwind tour that the police couldn’t even stop, I assembled the Funk Revolution in my one-room cabin, called Chez Jojo. I gathered together all my salvaged, scavenged, and repurposed gear and completely improvised recording techniques and introduced them to a band that was hot and true, playing up to the presumptuous name I had just given them. After our debut single, ‘Don’t Go Away,’ the rest of the material from this session would be taken down to Sleng Teng Studio and messed around with for years until being realized as more singles for Tramp. Isaac Weiser played Bass on this session and Delvon LaMarr was playing a Hammond that took up most of the room. No one even complained.

The Lake-Side phase of this Space Dream happened when we recorded in drummer Olli Klomp’s living room in his log-cabin on an island in a lake. I remember that it was the hottest day of the summer. We would swim in the Lake in between takes to cool off (being careful not to disturb our Crawdads that were contentedly grazing on barbecued chicken bones just beneath the dock). I blurted out “Lake-side...Crawdad Farmers!” as the tape began to roll on ‘Jesse’s Party’ and it ended up being the winning take so we just went with it. We had the transcendent Jonathan Sherman on Bass for this session.

The personnel for all the sessions were: Olli Klomp, drums, Ben Bloom, guitar, Thomas Deakin, saxophone, and Mars, trombone. Special guest percussionist on ‘Deal With It,’ ‘Izzy Come, Izzy Go,’ and ‘Potatocakes’ was Karl Olson. Patrick Gay played Moog on the tile track. Transferring, mixing, editing and overdubs performed at Sleng Teng, USA.

The only track that floats in its own space is “Still Listening,” Delvon LaMarr plays keyboard Bass on this one.

I ‘m called Lucky because I have the great fortune to be involved with such deeply grooving hearts, super talented players, and infinitely loving souls. This album is the realization of many Dreams.

It has been an honor to share the Space.

Joel Ricci aka Lucky Brown
April, 2011

Who is Lucky Brown?

Lucky Brown is a concept of American producer and performing artist Joel Ricci. Brown represents an archetype from the past who conducts original raw funk (aka Deep Funk) to musically map the soul's path from underground to outer space - and back. As Lucky Brown, Joel Ricci employs the use of found instruments and objects, outdated and discarded technology, and improvised and alternative recording techniques to tell this ancient story.

Select Deep Funk tracks by Lucky Brown and members of The Westsound Union (a collective of west-coast funk artists) have been licensed for release on 45RPM single format by Tramp Records Germany and can be found at www.tramprecords.com.

Lucky Brown is the leader of The Funk Revolution, piano player for the Port Angels, and producer/engineer of The Crawdad Farmers and The Mosquitohawks. He performs live on trumpet, flute, percussion and vocals with The L.B.s, The Lucky Mystery Now Orchestra, Original Duke of Hominy Brass Band, Larry Yes, and The MarchFourth Marching Band.

MOSQUITOHAWKS

Here is something fun from a session I composed, co-produced, arranged, engineered and performed on. Seattle Washington, USA. September 15th, 2010. The working session name is "T.D. & The Jimmy James 3" or we might go with "The Mosquitohawks" I was experimenting with how far I could push the drum and guitar channel through this weirdo amp I had laying around. As usual, I dug into my stash of noname mics turned to my trusty cassette 4-track. Drums went thru the same "Moneymaker" mic as in the Crawdad Farmers and Chez Jojo sessions. I am pretty happy with the results. I think we got the good vibes.

T.D. stands for Thomas Deakin, sax player from my band. Jimmy James is Jabrille Williams, guitar player from Seattle. The other guys are Jens Gunnoe on Drums and Bob Lovelace on Bass. There's more, lemme know if you want me to send it to you.

I was helped by Jason Gray which makes this our inaugural "Brown & Gray Production"

Hope ya dig it.

More on The Crawdad Farmers 45

This 45 is a snapshot of Bellingham musical history. It includes Tom and Mars from Yogoman Burning Band, Jon Sherman from Sweet Beets and Robert Blake’s pickup truck rolling into the lake! And Lil’ Hoss who saves the day. No kidding!

The two tracks are the first two releases from our legendary Lake-Side session last summer. They are also, in my opinion, the hottest cuts. We recorded in Olli Klomp’s (drums) living room in his beautiful cabin on an Island in a lake in Northwest Washington. I remember that it was the hottest day of the year. We would swim in the Lake in between takes to cool off (being careful not to disturb our Crawdads that were contentedly grazing on barbecued chicken bones just beneath the dock). We were in the lake just cooling off when all of a sudden I saw a cat running fast across the bridge and heard this “CRASH” from out in the woods. Well, Robert Blake’s pickup truck that Jon Sherman (Bass) had borrowed to drive to the session had been left without engaging the gear and the parking brake came loose. The thing rolled backward 100 yards down a hill, narrowly slipping between the trunks of two old-growth cedars, careening over the bank and coming to rest squarely in the middle of the muddy moat that separated Olli’s island from the mainland. I maintain that it was the cat who actually jumped on the hood, upset the balance, and surfed it down the hill - Jumping off at the last minute onto the bridge just before the thing went over the bank. Fortunately, The Yogoman Burning Band’s tourbus, Lil’ Hoss, was there and Thomas Deakin (sax) was able to figure out how to connect a rope between the truck and the bus. After about 20 minutes of reefing on the truck with the bus Thomas successfully liberated the pickup truck from the mud. Ben Bloom (guitar) was on hand to cheer Tommy on and to video the whole thing though we are still searching for that movie. The story has a happy ending: we applied the parking brake and engaged the gear to the truck and then brushed off the mud. No cats, trees, or people were injured, and we went ahead and recorded some amazingly hard Funk that evening.

Redbeard was written for an original member of The Lucky 7...That’s right, Noah Patterson. He and I actually played the song together in The Lucky 7 but as you know, I didn’t properly record it ‘til last summer. It went through many name changes, In fact it was Noah who originally named it “Beard Fulla Chicken Fat” but I thought that sounded gross so I decided to call it Redbeard after Noah and his big ol’ red beard. I haven’t seen that smile around for a while. I miss him. Redbeard is a boogaloo popcorn groove in the spirit of the Great James Brown. It was written originally for The Lucky Seven as an experiment to show the contrast between tight and loose grooves while still retaining that boogaloo pulse. I think it is a masterful work in that the hornline head is really only two specifically placed notes! The horns are really drums in this one. The bridge is only three notes and I called the bridge out at first and I liked it so much after the first time I just call it again after turning it back around to the tight top. The band turns on a dime and brings the energy up up up! After the last bridge, instead of going back to the head again, I give it up to Mars (trombone) and he barrels into the groove like a bull in a china shop. I am hanging on for dear life to the tambourine and I think we hold it for as long as we can ‘til I bring it back to the super tight top. Listen closely because it is this moment that I ask Olli to “talk” and that means to say something with the instrument. Man, he just does the sweetest with his snare and hat pattern while taking the whole thing home.
Jesse’s Party was written for Jesse Hunter or “Jesse from Sway” as we always called him. It was a going away party that I went to at James Beech’s (J.B. Quartet) house where, during one of the jams, I heard the first four notes of the bassline that eventually became both the bassline and the hornline for the tune. The hiccup drum pattern was supposed to make you feel disoriented like you were tripping and then gets into that heavy backbeat...which never happened during the jam, I just wanted it to happen so bad when I was there I took those four notes and exploded the line into the whole track, then did it myself.

Jesse’s Party is an ideal B-Side and listen closely, because those first moments of the guitar line are actually where the tape begins. It was just lucky that it happened like it did. I remember coming up with the bassline, and putting it up against that drum pattern. I dug the bassline so much that I decided not to write a hornline and just asked the horns to play in unison with the bass. Meanwhile I needed a thing to straighten out the chatter and ease the tension with a nice backbeat. At first, I just have all the instruments split off with Ben doing his “chank chank” soul thing on the ones, that was an idea we got from Delvon, and Olli dropping that backbeat. Jon continues with the original bassline and doesn’t lose it until I ask Ben Bloom (“Horseradish Tree” according to some spanish websites) to do his gritty final overlay part. This part reminds me of the clavinet overlay from Poet’s Of Rhythm’s genius “Smilin’ While Yer Cryin” Both parts seem to change the tonality of the thing and then wrap it back up around when everybody comes back in. We recorded his amp through an old trucker’s C.B. mic that I found for 10 bucks at Aladdin’s Antiques. That’s how he got that “breaker breaker” sound. I then give it up to Thomas. and... well..I am just gonna let you check it out and have his Saxophone speak for itself, words really cannot do it justice.

Anyway, I have a feeling that Funk freaks and DJ’s who like to do beat juggling will have a ball with this one because you can play with so many sections of the tune and build up the tension so high. I am really excited about these tracks. They really represent our finest works so far. Thank you so much for paying attention and supporting The Funk Revolution. In a world of disposable music and disposable ideas, It is really encouraging to meet and communicate with a circle that believes in things that are authentic, natural, real, and original. Thank you all for living, loving, and listening according to your ethics.

Enjoy the music and buy vinyl!

True Funk: The complete "Contemporary Funk" Liner Notes

True funk can only happen in the Now.

The funk on this compilation is contemporary but the message of funk is as old as humanity itself. Funk as Tramp Records sees it is a vibrant and viable music that was born from a transformative period in American history - the sound of the growing pains of a young country. ‘Contemporary Funk’ gathers inspired bands from today whose hearts still beat for funk’s timeless truth, and connects them with this rich legacy of American music.

The structure of funk reflects the social ideals of those making it. The simple yet disciplined form of funk carries within it a message of freedom, unity, cooperation, and equality. It literally cannot be made without these qualities being present in the hearts and souls of the band members. Playing your part in a way that shows that you are digging your partner’s contribution strengthens the social and musical bond. In this delicate web of intricate rhythms, each musician must subjugate his own ego for the good of the collective. He or she must share and give in equal proportion. The music percolates among the group in the Now and an inner potency is born out of the space. Inside the space lives the full spectrum of human emotion. And in going beyond the space, humans have the potential to reach higher and deeper as a people than with any other art form. Funk transports and transforms us from the inside. Those who partake know that when the groove is right and everyone is riding it out together, we are aligned with something ancient and arcane. The groove is…THERE! The silence between the sound opens up and grows wider. Time and space wobble and blur. They are altered, blasted apart and then reformed into something colorful, wild, and alive, exploded and then reformed again.

When trying to talk about this music, it might serve us to consider funk music as a pure form of folk music. The ascended masters of Soul and Blues, our musical ancestors, introduced most of what we now consider to be elements of funk to popular culture, but it’s legacy as an honest form of music for everyday folks is evident in the sheer volume of influence it has had on music and culture since then. Funk is a people’s music in that one need not be formally educated in music to make it. The necessary instruments and recording equipment can be scavenged or bought on a few days’ pay. In a relatively short time, beginning funk practitioners can invite regular folks into their circle to initiate revelers in the ancient ritual of dancing.

Funk is a pleasure for the ears and hips but it is also a powerful medicine for daily life. As a tool, we use it daily to sweeten the labor and to sweeten the leisure. As a foundational force, enlightened producers today draw upon funk’s unending depth. Funk is strong and forgiving. We sample from it and forget to give thanks. Yet without fail it continues giving and giving.

***
Today, the rhythm and earnestness of true funk can be found in all corners of the world. And this compilation is evidence that the innocence and purity of the original message remains strong. Affectation and phoniness can’t seem to take hold in funk as long as the unenlightened or uninitiated players aren’t trying to wah-wah their way through one-dimensional cartoon-like clichés. Afro wigs and ‘booty’ references only help to reinforce racist stereotypes and obstruct funk from realizing it’s true potential as an uplifting music for all the people of the world.

Funk scholar, Tobias Kirmayer has searched the deepest, darkest and dustiest record bins and studio basements across the globe for a sound and feeling that is almost impossible to write about. For to write about it is to in fact cheapen it and steal away some of its mysterious power.

The forgotten 45s and tapes that Mr. Kirmayer has unearthed for us were often made by people with a dream, but left to languish on shelves when corporations swept in and brutally suffocated the independents with cheap, computer-made music and massive advertising budgets. Just because it is rare, of course doesn’t make it good. In the collector’s circuit, the rarity of a thing sometimes supercedes its actual merit. Fortunately for us, Tobias’s discerning ear, explorer’s mind and tireless searching has shown us that hidden treasure still awaits those worthy of discovering it.

During his quest, he has found musicians and bands still stoking the fire of this real human music, musicians who actually bring their instruments into a room and actually play the music together. It is important to note that these musicians are not trying to emulate or recreate something old. Nor are they deserving of simplistic descriptions like ‘retro’ ‘classic’ or ‘throwback.’ These musicians are simply making music together, today, in the Now, and doing it with dignity, authenticity, and reverence. ‘Contemporary Funk’ is a testament to all of our individual and collective yearning for music that speaks to deep human truths.

We will always find our way back to it, and it will always be here for us when we do.