Freekbass Celebrates 8th Album: ‘All the Way This. All the Way That.’
The album is done. It’s in the mail. All that’s left to do is to say “Let’s take it to the stage!” Which is precisely what Freekbass & the Bump Assembly are doing, starting tonight (Wednesday, June 5) at Cosmic Charlie’s in Lexington KY with an album release party featuring Sammi Garett of Turkuaz. They take the party to Top Cats in Cincinnati, home bass (oops, base!) of Freekbass, Thursday, and then on to The Woodlands Tavern in Columbus Saturday.
There is a short album release Florida run at the end of June, and Freekbass will join Joe Marcinek, Steve Molitz, and Alan Evans for a pair of dates in July.
Did we say album? All the Way This. All the Way That. is the eighth album for the bass master, and this is the very first one also available on vinyl! The Bump Assembly are Rico Lewis (George Clinton) on drums and Sky White (Foxy Shazam) on keyboards. The recording also features Lonnie ‘Meganut’ Marshall on bass, the late Joel ‘Razor Sharp’ Johnson on keyboards, Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds) on guitar, and vocalists Sammi Garett (Turkuaz) and Itaal Shur, with several other guests as well.
All the Way This. All the Way That.
The new album is funk, pure and simple. That is the beauty of every album in his catalog and of every time he steps on stage. For this new album, he joined Team Color Red, Eddie Roberts’ great new record label. Roberts also plays guitar on four of the ten tracks.
“Knuckle Sandwich” hits you first with — what else? — bass! Rico Lewis and Sky White are here as well, with Roberts funking it up and Garett on vocals.
https://www.facebook.com/freekbassmusic/videos/339294400108801/
“You Make Me Wanna Dance” also features Adryon de León (Orgōne and Matador! Soul Sounds) along with Garett. Roberts’ funky guitar kicks this up a notch, but the key here is the sexy whispering vocals and beautiful vocalese from the ladies, so hot. Lewis’ drums are thumpin’, and White’s synths simply dance. And, of course, bass!
“R U Ready” is a three-quarter tempo funk hammer, space synths à la Bernie Worrell, a former Freekbass collaborator. Garett’s electric choruses make this otherworldly. Truly funkadelic.
“Gotta Get Back to You” powers ahead on Lewis’ drums. White’s synths are wonderfully spacey, the bass line on point, and Garett’s multitrack voice is gorgeous. Eventually, Roberts and White on electric piano turn this into a beautiful jazz date.
Damn! That bass! “Blizzard Lizard” features a massive bass line, pure Freekbass, and the song builds on White’s synths and the ethereal vocalese of Reilly Comisar, a Cincinnati musician.
“Fre3kronomoKon” shifts to hip hop. The track opens with computer voice (Stella Sherman?), and then more voices jump in: Itaal Shur and Charles Mista Swift Phillips III with Freekbass. The late ‘Razor Sharp’ Johnson is on keyboards. And, because you can never have too much bass, Marshall joins in on the fun.
White handles the synth drums on “Your Love is Always On Time,” Garett again great on top of the bass and White’s keyboards. Click this link for the brand new video.
“Steppin’ Outta Line” is deep, deep funk with spacey bass and a big chorus including Marshall, Stella Sherman, Garett, and Shur. Johnson handles keyboard duties here as well.
“Love in Your Pocket” has a great groove, Freekbass, Shur, and Garett intertwining vocals. Lewis provides the pulse.
For “Thrust,” the music is provided by DJs Nappy G and Chris Donnelly. Freekbass, Shur, and Garett again float their vocals over the groove.
Rex Thomson featured Freekbass on Episode 20 of Rex-A-Vision in March! Check that out here!
FREEKBASS & THE BUMP ASSEMBLY Album Release Party
featuring SAMMI GARETT
06/05 Cosmic Charlie’s | Lexington KY
06/06 Top Cats | Cincinnati OH
06/08 The Woodlands Tavern | Columbus OH
FREEKBASS & THE BUMP ASSEMBLY Album Release Party
06/27 Dunedin Brewery | Dunedin FL
06/28 Terra Firmata | Stuart FL
06/29 Rum 138 | Fort White FL
07/12 Turnbuckles | Dayton OH
JOE MARCINEK with FREEKBASS, STEVE MOLITZ & ALAN EVANS
07/30 Funk k’n Waffles | Syracuse NY
07/31 Buffalo Iron Works | Buffalo NY
FREEKBASS & THE BUMP ASSEMBLY
08/08 Bernie’s Beach Bar | Hampton Beach NH w/ Zach Deputy
08/10 Mazzstock Festival | Marlboro NY
08/10 Mazzstock Festival | Marlboro NY
FREEKBASS & THE BUMP ASSEMBLY Album Release Party
featuring SAMMI GARETT
09/13 Rockwood Music Hall | New York NY