Monday 31 July 2023

Posted by Gerry Hectic | File under : , , , , ,

Can you feel a new jazz dance Brit funk happening?  Well, it's on the cards as King Bee says it's 'Good To Be Back'.

Once more, Ramrock Red Records (and Mrs Ramrock, Jo Wallace in particular) have got their finger on the UK pulse and this time it's in Newcastle we find this powerhouse of a seven piece band that features the classic three horn front line with vibraphone!

Think Incognito mixed with the Chevalier Brothers doing jazz-funk like Morrissey Mullen/Beggar & Co. brought up to date like BunnDebrett Quintet, that's a bit of a challenge to get your jazzdance feet around but definitely worth it.

And on this mighty single, in addition to the instrumental version, there's two versions featuring the vocals of Andre Espeut who you may not recognise the name but his soulful vocals have quite rightly been sought after on countless releases.

Indeed, this is not King Bee's first recorded outing eithre as they released their first single in 2016 and found fans in Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music) and went onto be remixed by DJ Smoove (yes, another fellow of the North East and to be found on forthcoming Smoove & Turrell's single 'The Light', featuring Ronnie Foster on Jalapeno Records). [Note: that's Ronnie Foster of jazz label Blue Note!]

DJ Robbie Vincent and another serious soul-funk remixer, The Relex, are also counted King Bee fans and it's easy to see why as sounding like 'Good To Be Back', they must be brilliant live; particularly going on the reworked vocal version with extra basslines and acid-jazz organ, but it's all fantastic.


Artist: King Bee

Title: Good To Be Back ft. Andre Espeut  

Release date: 31st July, 2023

Label: Ramrock Red Records

Cat. No: RRR046

Format: Bandcamp / Digital

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