What do you
get when you mix a dash of funk, a spoon full of soul, fresh jazz, an array of
instruments, and eight strapping fellows?
This mixture would give you New York City’s Uptown Party Down.
UTPD brings a unique
flair to jazz by using the inspirations of Michael Jackson and Prince, which undoubtedly
adds the element of pop and dance. With funky rhythms, bouncy bass and horn lines,
and energetic vocals the ensemble takes the chaos of jazz and turns it into one matchless
sound. Having tracks that resembles that of James Brown, The
Meters, and the Turkuaz, UTPD has everything that would inspire their audiences
to throw down some funky dance moves.
They started playing sold out shows at the Mercury
Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Sullivan Hall, Highline Ballroom, and created a
following within months of their first live show in February 2011 .
“We
somehow got bumped into the headliner status in the midrange NYC venue ball
field by some stroke of luck. We've opened for Turkuaz, The Main Squeeze, Jay
& The Birds, but besides that we mostly have our own showcases. With the
record release I hope to have us opening for groups like George Porter, Greyboy
Allstars, Rebirth Brass, you know…the typical festival circuit,” Said Alex Hayes, one of the band’s founders and the bassist.
UTPD
will be taking the summer festival season off this year to tour around the New England area. They will be releasing their new album on May 18th, which was recorded at Galaxy Smith Studios in Brooklyn, where DMC and The London Souls have also
recorded. “It's a fantastic secret gem that people are just starting to become aware of.
We are really looking forward to it.” said Hayes.
Join them on Friday May 18th at the Rockwood Music Hall where Uptown Party Down will be hosting
a release party. They are also playing at Stella Blues in New Haven on May 30th,
and Spike Hill in Brooklyn on June 30th.
Follow them on twitter @uptownpartydown, and check them out on bandcamp.
Let CHARGED.fm get you tickets to your next concert.
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