Music was always meant to be fluid. Each performance of a song will have its own unique flair. Sometimes this is small note changes and other times it can be full flourishes that set each show apart. Our recent find the Joe Marcinek Band has become well known following this later formula. New album 1 River Street wraps up some of this sonic uniqueness into a tight little package.
The Jazz Funk Fusion style allows for quite a bit of diversity with each listen. The Joe Marcinek Band has become a legendary touring act known for its large rotating cast of musicians, rarely performing with the same line-up more than once. Playing shows from New York to Los Angeles with fresh talent allows each performance to truly become an experience for the audience.
Fresh from hosting New Orleans’ Dead Funk Summit (an event that brings funky musicians together over a shared love of the Grateful Dead), Joe Marcinek continued that energy for the new 1 River Street album. Bringing in the talent of bassist Nate Edgar (Stephen Marley, Common, John Brown’s Body), Alan Evans (Soulive), and Brian Thomas and Jared Sims of Duochrome fleshes out the album with the funky sound the band has become known for.
Opening up with “SoulD” lets the listener smoothly glide into the experimental world of the Joe Marcinek Band. Big bold guitars and horns sit on top of a groovy beat. The flow of the track seems to take us on a full fledged journey without ever knowing where we are going. We take a trip to the islands with the ska and dub-influenced “Carma” next. Some spacey psychedelic sounds are added to truly keep us guessing.
Wander with Joe Marcinek Band and the ‘Hawaiian Dinosaur’
The 6 and a half minute long “Hawaiian Dinosaur” is a track I had to check out on the name alone, lol. Letting the bass creep in among some organ flourishes tickled my fancy right away. The drumbeat keeps you grounded but the multitude of expert musicians each taking their turn in the lead makes for a truly epic listening experience. And somehow it all stays together as one piece of music. The shorter “Ola Ola” turns up the pace with a little more tempo but the instrumental interplay continues. Horns and organs battle here but there is no winner except for the listener.
The album closes with everyone coming together on “In Memory Of Iron Wax.” Jazz, Blues, Funk, and some Psychedelia all share their elements to craft a full sonic tapestry. Wrap yourself up in it and enjoy the cozy yet funky feel.
