Leslie Rochelle - Lead Vocals
Steven Hoffman - Guitar
Zac Vacanti - Saxophones
Adam Shlahet - Trumpet
Shannon Seals - Trumpet
Marc LaGana - Bass
Josh Moyer - Drums
Tony Morrone - Percussion
Juan Carlos Stolberg - Keys
Marius Dicpetris - Trombone
Influences
Lyn Collins, Betty Wright, Betty Harris, Marva Whitney, Helene Smith, Linda Tillery, Gwen McRae, Pearl Dowell, Gloria Walker, Sylvanus, James Brown, Eddie Bo, Inell Young, Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St. Rhthym Band, Don "Soul Train" Cambell, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Poets of Rhythm, Fela Kuti, The Organization, Badder Than Evil, Ceazar Frasier, Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers, Kool & the Gang, The Mohawks, Cymande, Oneness of Juju, Manu Dibango, Peter King, Antibalas, Matata, Mulatu, Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones, Charles Kynard, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy McGriff, Lou Donaldson, Melvin Sparks, Reuben Wilson, Eddie Fisher, Placebo, The Gaturs, Lyman Woodard Organization, Oliver Sain, Alice Clark, Gary Bartz, Ramsey Lewis, Sir Joe Quarterman, Black Heat, Little Royal and the Swingmasters, The Detroit Sex Machines, Roy Ayers, Eddie Harris, The Whitfield Brothers, African Music Machine, Betty Davis, Bobby Williams, Dyke and the Blazers, The Sylvers, The Fabulous Counts, The Invaders, The Meters, Mickey and the Soul Generation, The Nite-Liters, The Pazant Brothers, The Soul Searchers, Kon and Amir, Danny Rudder, Jeff Mao, Mr. Finewine, Dante Carfagna, Jimmy Jones, The Reggie Saddler Review, Hebrew Rogers, Timothy McNealy, The Young Disciples & Co., Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Sly and The Family Stone, Marlena Shaw, MMW, Bill Withers, Bobby Hutcherson, Cedric (Im) Brooks, Funk Inc., Gil Scott-Heron, Soulman, Keb Darge, Frank Motley, King Herbert, Tina Turner, El Michels Affair, Ultrafunk, Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters, East of Underground, Julius Brockington, Walter Jenkins, Soulstrut.com, Warren Lee, Pamoja, Brothers Of The Ghetto, Alvin Cash, The Incomparable Seven, The Chicago Gangsters, The Ohio Players, Please, Magnum, etc...
The Otis Funkmeyer Band Featuring Leslie Rochelle is a nine-piece deep funk ensemble from New York City. Otis’s sound is heavily influenced by the funk and raw soul from the sixties and seventies, and seeks to retain the qualities found in that music: the visceral emotion of the vocalists, the dance-ability and musicianship of the grooves, and the raw, live feel of the engineering. Rather than simply copying the artists they emulate, Otis Funkmeyer pushes the boundaries of the genre with original compositions that are personal and unique. Through soul-bearing lyrical expression and experimentation in sound, The Otis Funkmeyer Band picks up right where vintage raw funk left off.
For booking, contact Steve at otisfunkmeyer@yahoo.com
The Otis Funkmeyer Band is very excited to announce the release of our first single, "Why Are You Refusing My Love" b/w "You Hit The Spot Baby" on All City Recordings!
"Why Are You Refusing My Love" is an anthem of bitter heartbreak that everyone can relate to, and dance to!
The B side, "You Hit The Spot baby," is a funk burner dedicated to a lover that comes along and blows your mind, a cover of the lost classic by Gloria Walker and the Chevelles.
"...This nine-piece deep funk ensemble from New York City tears it up and will be in the front of our funk 7" box for a good long while." -Fat City
..
Our new 7" is available here and here.
Aaron Koppel Quartet @ Andy's Jazz Club 11/20 and 11/21
We are very excited about playing at such an awesome jazz club. We have some great sets lined up for you, so don't miss it.
Friday and Saturday November 20th and 21st, 5:00-8:30p at Andy's Jazz Club The Aaron Koppel Quartet 5-8:30p, Corey Wilkes group plays at 9:30p 11 E. Hubbard St. Chicago, IL 60611 The Aaron Koppel Quartet performing original music from "The Wild Call Of The Multi-Takser" and their new album "Falling Together Falling Apart", jazz standards, covers by Radiohead and James Brown. New album will be available for purchase at the show. 21+ Cover $10
Aaron Koppel -Guitar, Matt Nelson; (Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Santos) -Keyboard, Graham Czach; (Chicago Afrobeat Project) -bass, Robert Tucker (Matthew Santos) -drums http://www.andysjazzclub.com http://www.myspace.com/aaronkoppelmusic http://www.coreywilkes.com
Join us this coming Friday 30 October when Dig Deeper brings the four surviving members of Chicago soul group the Green Berets for their first NYC show ever, and first show anywhere in nearly 20 years, this time backed by the Divine Soul Rhythm Band, who will also be opening the night backing the sassy Sweet Divines. As always, DJ Honky and Mr. Robinson spin soul and funk 45s for the dancefloor before and after until 4am. Last Dig Deeper until January 2010! $10 advance will call tickets still available via Ticketweb - save money by reserving early...tickets will be $15 at the door if we have not sold out. Look forward to seeing you there!
* WHAT'S GOOD FAM, I JUST WANTED TO COME BY YOUR PROFILE TO SHOW SOME LOVE AND TO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. IF YOU EVER NEED BEATS: I HAVE BEATS FOR SALE ON MYBEATSHOP.COM/VANSBEATS AND ROCBATTLE.COM/VANSBEATS AND I AM IN THE TOP 3 SELLERS OUT OF OVER 40.000 PRODUCERS. MAKE SURE TO TAKE A LISTEN, I'M SURE THAT YOU WILL LIKE THE BEATS. AT THE MOMENT YOU CAN GET BEATS 50% OFF AT ROCBATTLE.COM/VANSBEATS (LIMITED TIME OFFER). I ALSO HAVE OVER 100 BEATS FOR SALE AT MYBEATSHOP.COM/VANSBEATS http://www.MyBeatShop.com/VaNsBeaTs PEACE AND THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TIME, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR PROJECTS AND YOUR FUTURE. VANS BEATS *
Algren's debut album and its accompanying graphic novel are available now on iTunes, CD Baby, and others. Visit www.waywardsound.com for songs and images from the project!
Join us this coming Saturday 26 September at Dig Deeper for JAMES BROWN's Soul Sister #1, funk and soul legend MARVA WHITNEY's first NYC show in 40 years, this time backed by the Sweet Divines and the Divine Soul Rhythm Band, who will also be opening the night with their own set. Special guest DJ Pari will be joining DJ Honky and Mr. Robinson to spin soul and funk 45s for the dancefloor with us until 4am. $10 advance will call tickets still available via Ticketweb - save money by reserving early...tickets will be $15 at the door if we have not sold out. Look forward to seeing you there!
Join us in one month's time at The Brooklyn Soul Festival, two nights of the legends of soul music, August 28 and 29, featuring Otis Clay, Barbara Lynn, Maxine Brown, Roscoe Robinson, and Hermon Hitson - backed by Eli "Paperboy" Reed and the True Loves (Aug. 28) and The Sweet Divines (Aug. 29).
$15 advance will call tickets still available via our myspace page, as are special $25 two-day passes - save money by reserving early...tickets will be $20 at the door if we have not sold out. Look forward to seeing you there!
Be sure to come early on Saturday, August 29, for our record and vintage clothing fair 11am-5pm - no cover for this part! Top soul DJs from around the world will be spinning the finest 45s for the dancefloor both nights!
JFJO returns to NYC this FRIDAY (JULY 18th) for an 11:30pm set at Joe's Pub! Come check out the new quartet lineup as they destroy Joe's on a Friday night!
Advance tickets are still available: http://tickets.publictheater.org/calendar/view.asp?id=9583
Join us this coming Saturday 27 June at Dig Deeper for Virginia soul legend LENIS GUESS's first NYC show in 20 years, this time backed by the Solid Set! Guest DJs the Scorpio Brothers will be spinning Virginia soul and funk 45s for the dancefloor with us until 4am.
$10 advance will call tickets still available via our myspace page - click the blue "Buy Tickets" button - save money by reserving early...tickets will be $15 at the door if we have not sold out. Look forward to seeing you there!
Please check out my new album "Feel The Fire" - The Remixes!
Including remixes by Smoove, Lack of Afro, Rephrase, AIFF, Thomas Blondet, Ed Royal, Una Mas Trio, Mash & Munkee, ALVO, Daytoner, The Uptown Felaz, JetTricks and Alan De Lanaire!
Feel welcome to listen to it on my profile and leave a comment.
you can order the new 12" on good old vinyl at: www.juno.co.uk www.fatcity.co.uk www.kudosrecords.co.uk www.hhv.de www.deep.hu
and the whole album digital at: www.iTunes.com www.amazon.com www.play.com www.musicload.de
Check out the Independent Arts and Music Festival (I AM Fest) taking place at the Congress Theatre on Saturday, June 13. Algren joins 24 other bands and numerous artists at this all day 100% local event. Visit www.iamfest.com for more info!
Check out the Independent Arts and Music Festival (I AM Fest) taking place at the Congress Theatre on Saturday, June 13. Algren joins 24 other bands and numerous artists at this all day 100% local event. Visit www.iamfest.com for more info!
Check out sample tracks from our new album, Falling Together Falling Apart, on our Myspace Page.
"All in all, Aaron Koppel and company...have produced a lovely, lively collection marked by intelligent writing, emotional depth, and sterling musicianship." -Neil Tesser
Click Here to Subscribe for "Falling Together Falling Apart"
THE DIARY Volume 1.5 (20 Years of the Remix) NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD AT WWW.MUSICOFSUBSTANCE.COM!
“This CD just shows how much Chris Read knows about historic Hip Hop production techniques - Its just a shame he wasn't creating this stuff during the eras he's covering as we would probably rate the man as being up there with Paul C, Pete Rock, Premier and all! - I can't think of another Hip Hop CD I've played so much in years” (ANDY SMITH - PORTISHEAD)
"Chris continues the rap anthology concept of his super-dope 'The Diary' megamix in the shape of a remix project, re-lacing acapellas from 89-2009 with historically accurate beats. 'The Diary 1.5' serves as a great platform for Chris to showcase his ample beat-making skills whilst referencing those who've inspired him." (DJ WOODY - FORMER WORLD ITF CHAMPION)
“Wicked! The perfect companion to The Diary Mixtape. Shows an impressive knowledge of sounds from all eras.” (MR THING - FORMER WORLD DMC CHAMPION)
"Crazy! This is Rap History in the making. Chris proves his production skills on this one to the fullest. A wonderful and refreshing journey through all eras of hip hop. Double thumbs up!" (MARC HYPE - FORMER ITF CHAMPION)
J.A.M/Jazztronik -Japanese Jazz With Attitude 12 on 180 Gram heavy vinyl whilst stocks last ! This is the first time these tracks have ever been made available on vinyl !!
Mukatsuku Records MUKAT 013 ***** 5 out of 5 review DJ Magazine
DJ Support so far from...
GILLES PETERSON MR SCRUFF GERARDO FRISINA DIESLER KEVIN BEADLE SOLAR RADIO DOM SERVINI ROB LUIS TRU THOUGHTS
and many more !
Check Juno for the world's largest selection of Mukatsuku releases including exclusive slip mats,high quality 200 gram t shirts and free stickers !
Online Now!
