JazzFest.Wien 2011
Soulbop Special Edition feat. Randy Brecker, Bill Evans + Medeski, Martin & Wood
Porgy & Bess 21.00
Soulbop was founded in 2003 by former Miles Davis saxophonist Bill Evans and the trumpet virtuoso Randy Brecker. These top musicians used this dynamic formation for funk and jazz, blues and soul.
Soulbop carries on the path which Miles Davis helped lay down in the early 1980’s: Pop melodies combined with jazz harmonies and funk rhythms. Another godfather of the group is the 70’s fusion group The Brecker Brothers. Soulbop covers (but never copies) classics such as “Some Skunk Funk” and “Above & Below”.
Soulbop has often used the services of musical friends and colleagues such as Richard Bona, Robben Ford, Dennis Chambers and Steve Lukather. This year Soulbop is being accompanied by none other than the famous groove trio of Medeski, Martin & Wood.
This trio formed in 1991 and soon brought a fresh energy to the Knitting Factory scene in New York. Their music grooves, while at the same time being grounded and smart. Over the years the have honed their craft by playing with the likes of John Scofield, Marc Ribot and Marshall Allen (Sun Ra). The combination of Soul Bop with MM&W promises fusion at its finest.
line up:
Randy Brecker: trumpet
Bill Evans: tenor-, soprano saxophone
John Medeski: keyboards, organ, piano
Billi Martin: drums, percussion
Chris Wood: bass