The Budos Band

by The Budos Band

Overview

One of the pillars of the Daptone label alongside Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the Sugarman 3, the Budos Band blend soul and funk and twist it with African music scales, particularly with their horn arrangements. Their self-titled LP showcases a band comfortable playing at nearly any speed, often with a brooding sensibility. "Budos Theme" expresses their sound with a high-octane sense of urgency. Prevalent are those aforementioned horns swirling in tornadic fashion, but the track also gets a dose of extra personality from drummer Brian Profilio's ecstatic rhythms. Far from conventional, the beat dances in unison with the bass guitar, played by Daniel Foder, creating a jittery backbeat. The follow-up track, "Ghost Walk," is itself an embodiment of righteous instrumental soul that slows down to a deliberate tempo. The jam starts with a crunchy drum break before being paced by an exemplary and hypnotic Tommy "TNT" Brenneck guitar performance. Fueling the groove are some accompanying extended organ chords and a two-bar conga solo that breaks through momentarily. The Budos Band even throw in a worthy cover of Sly & the Family Stone's classic "Sing a Simple Song." Although it lacks the pop of the original, in part because Cynthia Robinson isn't adding her fiery shouts, it's still a monster arrangement. Unrecognizable as a cover for the first 20 seconds, the guitar lick finally gives it away. For the first 80 seconds, the band plays it close to the vest before building up the suspense and then climaxing at the 1:45 mark. It's not the party starter as performed by Sly & the Family Stone, but it's a perfect example of paying reverence to a classic jam while still adding some original finesse. During a time when the neo-soul craze in urban music was waning, another movement of soul revivalism was starting to gain serious footing. For an instrumental band in the 2000s to be such a musical force in instituting a change in the guard -- even if only in a subset of the genre -- is a testament to the bandmembers' musical abilities in playing, writing, arranging, and performing. The album is a commendable piece of artistry not to be overlooked. ~ Eric Luecking

Product Details

Release Date:	11/29/2005
Label:	Daptone
UPC:	0823134000513
Rank:	43971

Tracks

1. Up From the South
2. T.I.B.W.F.
3. Budos Theme
4. Ghost Walk
5. Monkey See, Monkey Do
6. Sing a Simple Song
7. Eastbound
8. Aynotchesh Yererfu
9. King Charles
10. The Volcano Song
11. Across the Atlantic

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Budos Band   Primary Artist
Daniel Foder   Bass (Electric),Bass
Bosco Mann   Congas,Cowbell,Guitar (Rhythm)
Johnny Griggs   Cabasa
Jared Tankel   Sax (Baritone)
Mike Deller   Organ
Vincent Balestrino   Shekere
Duke Amayo   Congas
Michael Irwin   Trumpet
Brian Profilio   Drums
Neal Sugarman   Tambourine,Sax (Tenor)
Thomas Brenneck   Guitar (Electric)
Daisy Sugarman   Flute

Technical Credits

Bosco Mann   Composer
Gabriel Roth   Mixing,Engineer,Executive Producer
Belay, Samuel   Composer
Mike Deller   Composer,Group Member
Vincent Balestrino   Group Member
Don Grossinger   Mastering
Andrew Greene   Composer
Michael Irwin   Composer,Group Member
Brian Profilio   Composer,Group Member
Neal Sugarman   Composer
Daniel Foder   Composer,Group Member
Sylvester Stewart   Composer
The Budos Band   Composer
Thomas Brenneck   Composer,Group Member
Jared Tankel   Composer,Group Member