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Latest music, Masterlink Sessions notes, tour updates and project stories from Redtenbacher's Funkestra.
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Keyboard Player Dave is an absolute world-class Hammond organ player who can evoke any emotion with the beast, that is a B3. His groove, soloing, total commitment and vibe are super-exciting and he has shared his considerable talents with Stefan on almost all records, starting with the very first one in 1996 – ‘Boozing Wizards’.…
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Keyboard Player Rob is a long standing member of the Funkestra and has an incredibly soulful and funky style, both when soloing and comping. Guitarist Eran Kendler and Rob have a wonderful comping hook-up which propels the band forward in a serious fashion. Rob, the quintessential professional keyboard player, studied at the Royal Academy of…
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Saxophonist Rob is a fantastic saxophone player (both tenor and bari) and brings a wonderful warm, soulful and funky style to the band. Always impeccably dressed he always delivers a rock solid, ?rootsy? and grounded feel to the band both off and on stage. His career as a jazz musician started whilst the was studying…
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Bassist, Composer, Bandleader Austrian native Stefan Redtenbacher wears many hats: bassist, guitarist, composer, bandleader, arranger, educator, producer, music-software developer, and intrepid captain of the groove ship Funkestra. Stefan fell for Herbie Hancock and Maceo Parker early on, but it took him a few years to find his own groove; recorder lessons at age 10, for…
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Trumpet Player Paul has played his trumpet with the Funkestra since around 2005 and brings his “soaring be-bop lines mixed with the pin-point accuracy of classical technique and achingly gorgeous melodic lines.” (Oxford Jazz Cellar) to the music and most of all – he is fantastically funky! He also bring a wonderful sense of humour…
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Trumpet Player Sid is a formidable trumpet player with a AAA resume who joined the Funkestra many funky moons ago. He brings his rock solid lead playing and exciting soloing to the band as well as his horn arranging and even co-wrote some of the Funkestra tunes. Live he also significantly embellishes the groove with…
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Guitarist Eran has been the guitarist in the Funkestra from 2005 to 2018. Both a seriously driving force of the rhythm section and an exciting soloist who customarily ignites the audience with his solo flights. A native of Israel, he is also fantastically good with technology and co-founder of KnowledgeRocks, a London based Music Education…
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Saxophonist Simon brings a lot of firepower and a joyously un-inhibited style to the music of the Funkestra. After years of enjoying his muscular, inventive and exciting contributions on tenor sax we?ve also come to learn that he is equally excellent on the alto and bari – and if this wouldn?t be enough – he…
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Drummer Mike ‘The Oracle’ Sturgis is the longstanding drummer of the Funkestra and is without a doubt the rock-solid backbone of the band. His timing, groove and feel are a vital part the Funkestra sound, and he has continued to develop and adapt his approach to the art of funky drumming to suit the changing…
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This February we’ll be heading up to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to run workshops and rehearse some very big band arrrangements ahead of a special performance on Saturday 20th February at the RNCM Theatre!
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?was dominated by collaboration and expansion into new waters. Read my take on memorable events of 2015 and what lies ahead in the new year. A very happy, healthy and fulfilling 2016 to you all! Thank YOU for your continued support of our adventures in Funkland…
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And for the last concert in 2015 it is our pleasure to announce our ‘funky Christmas’ gig at the 606 Jazz Club in Chelsea, on Friday 4th of December, feat. Brendan Reilly on vocals. Come out an have a boogie with us before those Christmas Turkeys weigh you down!
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