| Jazz Funk |
For twenty years, the Electro Deluxe group has considered itself indefinable, but over the years, it is nevertheless against a backdrop of funk music that the group became known and succeeded in gaining its credentials. In 2010, a major turning point for the group: Thomas Faure (saxophone), Jérémie Coke (bass), Arnaud Renaville (drums), and Gaël Cadoux (keyboards) were joined by singer James Copley. This new album may be even more funky than the previous ones, just look at the guests, Candy Dulfer, Dutch saxophonist of Prince, and Dave Stewart solo on the single “NAKIE”. Nils Landgren, (whom Bayou Blue Radio listeners know perfectly well) Swedish trombonist and founder of the famous Funk Unit, joined the group’s brass section for the instrumental groove that bears the album’s name. Fred Wesley, a true living legend, American trombonist of James Brown, Maceo Parker, and founder of the “JB’s,” honored them by playing on a track written as a tribute to the music he embodies like no one else, “BLADE.”
Although the group claims this album to be “home-made,” we find ourselves with a big studio sound and deep bass, delighted to hear Nils Landgren, because one of Electro Deluxe’s particularities is precisely to arrange brass very “Jazz” style, and as I always say, the best funk groups are precisely those that draw their sources from jazz brass. The tracks are decidedly contemporary; one can feel both the European culture, normal since the group is French, but also the American influences. One can even feel the influences of an artist like Prince on certain tracks, for example, on “Nakie, Nakie,” it’s hard to say if this is due to the presence of Candy Dulfer.
Having played at festivals worldwide for all these years, Electro Deluxe has built a solid reputation, well-deserved. “Next” is their eighth studio album, and there are also two “Live” albums, “In Paris” released in 2012 and “Circle Live” in 2018. From my point of view, “Next” is one of their best albums, undoubtedly the one of maturity, because one can feel the group completely at ease with their guests who are far from being beginners. Yet another album that will make history, with arrangements of stunning beauty that will appeal to a wide audience, and therefore an “Indispensable” album, not to say essential…
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, March 20th 2024
::::::::::::::::::::::
Concerts:
le 21.03 à Aix-en-Provence – 6MIC
le 22.03 à Montpellier – Rockstore
le 23.03 à Toulouse – Bikini
le 24.03 à Bordeaux – Casino Barrière
le 29.03 au Mans – Oasis
le 30.03 à Deauville – Casino Barrière
le 31.03 à Lille – Casino Barrière
le 03.04 à Paris – Trianon