The Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Each song here holds its share of surprises. Dancehall rhymes clash with sultry female vocals, Turkish melodies and rapid Drum 'n' Bass meet in a dreamlike union, the ghost of James Brown past rises, or maybe just the gentle lapping of a vintage keyboard over a funky percussive beat -- often all in the same song. This band's membership is wide and varied, as many members have split to form new groups (such as Yuka Honda, who departed for Cibo Matto). The core of the group, however, can encompass as many as twenty-three members spewing out funky horn breaks or crisp guitar, or laying back to hold down a tight New York groove. From their first success -- a version of Pharoah Sanders' "The Creator Has a Master Plan" -- it has been apparent that the Brooklyn Funk Essentials are a creative force filled with original ideas and excellent musicians.