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Funk Filharmonik
- Maplewood, NJ
- United States
Music
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Leon P. "Sealey2k" Sealey commented on Funk Filharmonik's video
Yeah!! This is where I come from: big horn phunk! Nice.
Funk Filharmonik updated their profile
Videos posted by Funk Filharmonik
Funk Filharmonik 25.5 Anniversary Bash at The Crazy Donkey
April 22, 2011 from 6pm to 10pm
Funk Filharmonk is finally celebrating its 25th (and a half) Anniversary after the snows of the past winter forced us to cancel our show in December... You DON’T want to miss this party as we’ve been chomping at the bit to get it together! All ages are welcome so bring the whole family out to celebrate with us!Tickets are $25 in…See More
An event by Funk Filharmonik was featured
Funk Filharmonik 25.5 Anniversary Bash at The Crazy Donkey
April 22, 2011 from 6pm to 10pm
Funk Filharmonk is finally celebrating its 25th (and a half) Anniversary after the snows of the past winter forced us to cancel our show in December... You DON’T want to miss this party as we’ve been chomping at the bit to get it together! All ages are welcome so bring the whole family out to celebrate with us!Tickets are $25 in…See More
Event posted by Funk Filharmonik
Friday 4/22, Funk Filharmonik's 25.5 Anniversary. The Crazy Donkey Farmingdale NY
www.funkfilharmonik.com
Funkfone: 516-345-1928
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Funk Filharmonik updated their profile photo
Profile Information
- How did you hear about our Music Community? If from a friend, please tell us who.
- Stokes
- Please list links for your personal pages on other social networks. Specific links to your page are needed to allow you access.
- To better serve you, tell us about your music connection.
- Musician Instrumental, Musician Vocalist, FAN, Music Educator, Song Writer, Booking Agent, Manager
- What instrument(s) do you play? (you can select more than one)
- bass (electric), drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion, sax (baritone), sax (tenor), trombone, trumpet, vocals (backup), vocals (soloist)
- What are your favorite Musical Genres?
- Pop, Blues, Jazz, Latin Jazz, Soul Jazz, Acoustic, Traditional, Classical, Funk, R&B / Soul, Caribbean / Reggae, Rock, Cajun / Zydeco
- Your Website URL?
- http://www.funkfilharmonik.com
Funk Filharmonik's Page
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About Funk Filharmonik...
Ozzie Melendez, the band's musical director (producer, arranger, composer of the newly released CD entitled “Everybody Get Down) and trombone player approached the band's former tenor sax player Alex Stewart with the idea of a band that could genuinely duplicate the sounds of Earth Wind and Fire and Tower of Power. They presented the idea to drummer Lee Finkelstein and bassist Rich Ebler of the Jim Pin Band. As it turned out, Lee and Rich had visions of the same band for years. An immediate alliance was formed. “I was so excited,” recounts Ozzie, “that I went home, and the very next day started transcribing six of my favorite Tower of Power tunes.
When Gary Smith, of The Brokerage Pub and long time pillar of Long Island's live music scene heard the line up of this band, he booked them sight unseen, without a demo tape. Many of Funk's members had performed regularly at The Brokerage and Gary knew the caliber of musicians he was dealing with.
Funk Philharmonia (as they were originally called) first gig was on November 21st 1985. Since that first gig, there have been surprisingly few changes in the band's line up, especially for a group of this size.
Funk Filharmonik's big, fat, fiery horn sound and chunky rhythmic vibe has become a magnet for musicians and music lovers of all stripes, from jazz hipsters to rockin' bikers, from students to teachers, youngsters to oldsters, fans of jazz, funk, soul, R & B, listeners, dancers, to some of the most well know musicians in the NY Metropolitan area.
Funk Filharmonik has influenced many other local bands and fueled the resurgence of horn bands on L.I. Their performances have become a local hang for so many players. One never knows who is in the audience and might come up to sit in with the band, particularly when they gig in Manhattan. The band does, after all, feature some of Long Island's hottest and most in demand players. Collectively, they've recorded and continue to perform with the icons of popular music, including Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Blues Brothers, Aretha Franklin, John Mayer, Bootsy Collins, Steve Cropper, Shaggy, the Winans, Mariah Carey, The Allman Brothers, John Oates, Eddie Floyd, Huey Lewis, Michael Bolton, Queen Latifah, and so many more.
Some of Funk Fil’s members have also played and recorded and continue to play with jazz and Latin giants including Tito Puente, Willie Colon, Freddie Hubbard, Jonathan Butler, Marc Anthony, Lionel Hampton, Jennifer Lopez, the Brecker Brothers, and a list that goes on and on. Their talents have added to countless TV and Broadway shows, and commercial jingles. At any given moment, these guys might be off performing as a band, as a horn section, or individual players in the far corners of the world playing in such diverse settings as presidential inaugurations, midnight sun concerts in Sweden's Arctic Circle, or spiritual drum and dance ceremonies of Ghana, West Africa. Funk Filharmonik also prides itself in the many benefits they and their loyal following of funksters have supported for humanitarian and environmental causes.
Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 3:23pm on April 1, 2011,
Mike Stokes said… - Glad to have you as part of our musical family. Funk Filharmonik is a fantastic band!
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WFDU FM - Big Apple Country Fund Drive
Posted by Mike Stokes on February 6, 2012 at 10:53pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Hi all - WFDU is a unique non-commercial source for music neglected by commercial stations in the NYC tri-state area. My show, "Big Apple Country" is one of the only shows of its kind in our area. Help me keep this show (and Country Music) alive & vital by sending a few bucks our way. Just go to our site & click on "Money Matters." You can also call in during the show.
If you're a regular listener, you know the importance of this program. Tuesdays 9am - 1pm / 89.1 FM in the NYC area / on the Web @ www.WFDU.fm / on your SmartPhone via a free Ap (WFDU). PLEASE…
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Live at Birdland!
Posted by Cyrille Aimée on October 25, 2011 at 4:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Cyrille Aimée & The Surreal Band
Live at Birdland Jazz Club
315 West 44th street NYC
Friday November 25th and Saturday November 26th!
8:30pm and 11pm sets both days!
Cyrille Aimée: vocals
Matt Simons: tenor sax and vocals
Wayne Tucker: trumpet
Assaf Gleizner: piano
Sam Anning: bass
Mal Stein: drums
Roseann Baker and Katrina Cunningham: dance
Get tickets here: http://www.birdlandjazz.com/event/70831/
Americana Festivals 2011
Posted by Mike Stokes on July 28, 2011 at 12:01pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
The last photos, and how the Monday Night's all began, from Lou Pallo.
Posted by Steve Lucas on February 21, 2011 at 11:00am 0 Comments 1 Like
Click the pic to be taken to Lou Pallo's Blog at The Les Paul Foundation.
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