Wildflowers

by Connie Price, Connie Price & the Keystones

Overview

Those seeking an un-ironic return to the classic days of jazz and funk played by a group of live musicians who swing and churn with the best of the old-school need look no further than this album by Los Angeles-based Connie Price & the Keystones. Produced (in the traditional sense) by Dan Ubick for Stones Throw's equally old-fashioned off-shoot, Now-Again, Ubick assembled almost 30 highly skilled musicians from contemporary funk units Antibalas, Poets of Rhythm, and the Soul Destroyers, as well as the highly popular Dap-Kings, proving that this is a growing scene in the best sense of the word, where musicians still jam together and follow the groove (and work) wherever it may lead. Bandleader and drummer Dan Ubick (aka Connie Price) leads this gang of players through a score of horn-filled, groove-heavy originals that easily sound like they could have been laid to tape 50 years ago, with Ubick's jazz-infused boom-bap offering a contemporary swing gleaned from hip-hop as well as classic soul. Muted horn riffs fuse with loose jazz guitar and an ass-swaying drum break on "Tall Day Grass" that was made for smoking filterless cigarettes on the front porch, while opener "Sticks & Stones" incorporates a reggae-tinted groove, with dub-worthy bass, ska horn punches, and vibraphone hits that chime through the low-end swell. The title track and lead single offers one of the only vocals, with a lead vox by vintage singer Lester Abrams who sounds like Curtis Mayfield's long lost half-brother. The last time young men made music your parents would like, it resulted in the swing dance revival. Here's hoping this dirtier time in musical history brings with it all of the nasty funk that accompanied it the first time around. ~ Joshua Glazer

Product Details

Release Date:	01/19/2024
Label:	Superjock Records
UPC:	0784085100205

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Connie Price & the Keystones   Primary Artist,Vibraphone,Percussion,Drums
Carleen & the Groovers   Primary Artist
Connie Price   Primary Artist,Drums,Vibraphone
Tracy Wannomae   Harmonica,Saxophone,Clarinet (Bass)
"Hoagie" Haven   Flugelhorn
David Wilder   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Bobby Watley   Featured Artist,Organ
The L.A. Carnival   Featured Artist
Malcolm Catto   Featured Artist,Drums
Jeremy Ruzumna   Keyboards
Pete McNeal   Drums
Dave Cooley   Bass Harmonica
David Ralicke   Trombone,Saxophone
Dan Hastie   Keyboards
Willie Lee   Guitar,Keyboards
James King   Saxophone
Dwayne Kelly   Melodica,Keyboards
Leo Price & Band   Guitar
Davey Chegwidden   Percussion
Jan Weissenfeldt   Guitar
Todd M. Simon   Trumpet
Lester Abrams   Vocals
Leslie Smith   Vocals
Dan Ubick   Guitar,Sitar

Technical Credits

Dan Ubick   Audio Production,Engineer,Composer
Dave Cooley   Mixing,Mastering
James M. King   Composer
Matt Rowlands   Layout Design
James King   Composer
J King   Composer
Jeremy Ruzumna   Composer
Todd M. Simon   Composer
Connie Price & the Keystones   Mixing
Todd Simon   Composer
Donovan Leitch   Composer
Dave Wilder   Composer