Editor’s Picks for September
August 29, 2013
BOB Profile: Susan Cowsill
August 30, 2013
Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk crashed into New Orleans music scene in 2003, debuting at the Big Easy’s premier venue: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Today, Dumpsta’ captivates audiences with a whole new level of funk. Bass Player Magazine said of last year’s performance, “The colossal low end and filthy grooves they threw down from the Gentilly Stage must have set a Jazz Fest record for baddest bass jams ever.”
Neville’s “small side project,” as Rolling Stone once called it, now rates as “one of New Orleans’ most prestigious modern funk ensembles,” according to the magazine.
‘nough said.
Dumpstaphunk is double bassists Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III, guitarist Ian Neville and drummer Nikki Glaspie, who also lends a hand on vocals. Ivan Neville, son of Aaron Neville, fronts the band and slays on B3 and clav.
“We always keep the spontaneity going, that’s something I love about this band,” Ivan Neville said. “We can funk it out with the best of them, but we also like to showcase how all sorts of music can come together and push the boundaries of what funk music is.”
The band’s been touring the world virtually non-stop promoting its latest release, “Dirty Word.”
Neville and company meld vintage funk – the stuff that made Sly & the Family Stone and Parliament Funkadelic icons – with New Orleans’ musical gumbo: gospel, blues, second-line, R&B and unadulterated, unforgiving rock ‘n’ roll on the latest release. Spicing the pot are local notables Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Rebirth Brass Band, Art Neville (Ian’s dad), Ani DiFranco, Grooveline and Rea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who lend their talents to the project.
“We just hope to spread the good word through funk,” Glaspie said. “If we can create an escape, give people a reason to get down and forget their problems, then we’re doing what we set out to do.”
Like we said, ‘nough said.
