Funk Brothers London Dates Thursday 18th Jan - Saturday 20th Jan

The Funk Brothers

The Ronnie Scott's All StarsThursday 18th January - Saturday 20th January

£36.00

Information on The Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers:

Jack Ashford (Leader & Percussion) Joe Hunter (Keyboards), Gregory Wright (Keyboards), Larry Johnson (Lead Vocals), Jeneane Cranet (Vocals), Valencia Robinson (Vocals), Robert McDonald (Bass), Derek Organ (drums), Ronald Rathers (Guitar), Angelo Earl (Guitar), Carmelo Scaffidi-Argentina (Trumpet), Tom Ralls (Trombone), Calvin Bennett (Saxophone)

Jack Ashford - Upon hearing the early Motown records that invaded England in the '60s, EMI Records' president Sir Joseph Blackwood remarked they would never make it because the tambourine was mixed too hot.. But Sir Berry Gordy of Motown Records knew something that Sir Joseph didn't: Jack Ashford was not just any old tambourine player - he was a tambourine virtuoso. Just talk to any percussionist about "the cat that played tambourine at Motown" and watch them become enraptured.

But his first love was vibes, and his playing caught the eye of Marvin Gaye when he saw Jack playing with an organ trio in Boston. Coming to Motown at Marvin's request in 1963, Jack went on to become their most prolific percussionist, playing more than a dozen traditional percussion instrument as well as a few "off the beaten track" instruments like knee slaps, foot stomps, and his own invention, the "hotel sheet." A particular favorite of Marvin Gaye and Norman Whitfield, Jack's imaginative and colorful percussion grooves were one of the principal reasons why these two great artists always seemed to be breaking new ground with every recording they produced.

clip from Ronnie Scotts Website

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