It is highly unlikely that your family would plan a large reunion on an unassuming weeknight, yet that is exactly what the Live For Live Music crew successfully did. Brooklyn Bowl was filled with good vibes this past Tuesday evening as a slew of incredibly talented musicians took the stage for Funk n’ Bowl Superjam. This show featured some of the most recognizable names in the modern jam band scene, such as Marco Benevento on keys, Soulive/Lettuce’s Eric Krasno on guitar, Lettuce’s Jesus Coomes on bass, Lettuce/Break Science’s Adam Deitch on drums, as well as Snarky Puppy’s Justin Stanton, Chris Bullock, Michael “Maz” Maher and Nate Werth on horns and percussion, respectively. The super-group played to a packed house made up of family, friends, and big fans who were ready to get their funk on.
Opening act Sophistafunk started the night, immediately getting the growing crowd on their feet with some great tunes. The funk group set the mood for the night with some great hip-hop from Jack Brown on vocals over sick beats by Emanuel Washington, and bass+keys from multi-instrumentalist Adam Gold. The trio was rounded out with a fourth member, guest saxophonist Chris Bullock, to solidify the sound. The group kept it personal as the crowd danced away with Jack Brown giving a quick shout out to his mother in attendance before closing out the set with their song “Gimme Some Space.”
As for the main event, it was a funked-up super jam from the moment that the guys started to play. Jesus Coomes held a commanding center-stage stance as the music began and Eric Krasno held everyone’s attention with one fantastic guitar solo after the next. Marco Benevento looked right at home with the rest of the guys, sitting at his rightful place at the keyboard, and smiled throughout the show, while Adam Deitch kept the whole group tight with his intricate and detailed beats. Members of Snarky Puppy rounded out the troop with a booming horn section and accented percussion throughout the night. From the jazz flute solo in the first song to the jam over the Beatles “Get Back” cover, the entire jam felt as if we were all sitting in on a very exclusive event. The crowd did not stop dancing throughout the night and even the most seasoned concert goers let their hair down and got into the groove.
There was a lot of billed talent that appeared on the Brooklyn Bowl stage, but what surprised the crowd were the special unannounced guests that sat alongside the super jam players. Grammy award winning trumpet player Maurice Brown sat in to solo on a couple of tunes and added to the undeniable dynamic on stage. Bobby Deitch, well regarded drummer, and even more importantly, Adam Deitch’s father, hopped on the drum kits towards the end of the show. Adam Deitch stayed on a second drum kit on stage and the two kept the beat for the remainder of the night and kept it all in the family. By the end of the night, the packed house danced on together to a sick cover of Buddy Miles’ “Them Changes” and no one wanted the night to end. From brothers and sisters watching the show together from the floor, to sons and fathers jamming on stage together, Funk n’ Bowl was a family affair, and everyone in attendance felt the love.
Setlist: Funk n’ Bowl ~ Brooklyn Bowl ~ 4/14/15
Mr. Bass Man
Roll Out
Get Back
76
Up & Out
Manic Depression
Red Baron
At the show
I Can’t See The Light
Them Changes
Memphis Train
Povo
Cantaloupe
Tress-Con-Deo-La
– Marisa Frydman (@musicalmarisa)
Photos by Djivan Schapira (B.a.D Photography) – full gallery below:
