Song:Staten Island Groove
Album:The Best Of Down To The Bone
There is a long history of British R & B and funk from bands like The Brand New Heavies. Down To The Bone is in this tradition. But they are odd because Down To The Bone founder, leader and composer Stuart Wade doesn't play in the band. Wade is a DJ and he doesn't play any instruments. And the way he writes songs is he hums a melody and the musicians execute it. He started Down To The Bone in 1996 and when Staten Island Groove became a hit, he decided to record the 1997 album From Manhattan To Staten. The album reached #2 on the Jazz Album chart. Since then Wade has recorded as Down To The Bone for Atlantic, Verve, Narada and his latest CD The Main Ingredients is on Trippin 'n Rhythm. This comp from Narada is a good intro to their music. Several jazz funk legends like Reuben Wilson, Jeremy Steig, Brian Auger and Roy Ayers have appeared on Down To The Bone CDs along with singers Flora Purim, N'Dambi and Hil St. Soul. Wade hires different musicians to play in Down To The Bone for North America and England. That's very unusual but I guess one should remember that Wade doesn't play in the band. Funk fans will enjoy them regardless. Here's Down To The Bone performing Staten Island Groove in Chicago 2010.
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