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Redtenbacher’s Funkestra

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Short bio

With a fine balance between exciting arrangements and fiery solos, the Redtenbacher’s Funkestra never fails to entertain their audience with their feel-good, high-energy and original hybrid of Funk, Soul and Jazz, interjected with a good dose of humor and fun.

A characteristic and popular trademark of the band is their obvious enjoyment of on-stage performing and Stefan Redtenbacher’s banter, where he delights the crowd with amusing tales of the inner workings of the band and stories about the conception of their tunes.

Established in 2005, this multinational band is the creative brainchild of bassist and bandleader Stefan Redtenbacher who is currently mixing the material for their fifth album ‘The Cooker’ which is due later this year.

Alongside the core sextet, featuring Jim Hunt on tenor saxophone and Sid Gauld on trumpet, their records additionaly feature Funk legends like trombonist Fred Wesley (James Brown, Parliament), baritone saxophonist Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka, trumpeter Lee Thornburg, tenor sax player Lenny Pickett (Tower of Power), guitarists Elliott Randall (Steely Dan) and Eric Krasno (Soulive/Lettuce) as well as the finest horn sections from the vibrant London Jazz Funk scene (Incognito, Brand New Heavies) and Michael B. Nelson’s ‘Hornheads’ (Prince).

For special occasions and festival gigs the band performs as ‘Redtenbacher’s Funkestra Mini Big Band’ plus a featured vocalist. This 10 piece line up with a 5 piece horn section is known to exude some serious energy that causes walls to shake and people to sweat and dance!

Performances

The band is successfully performing on a regular basis at the renowned 606 Jazz Club in London to a multi-national crowd and have appeared at festivals and venues like the European Bass Day (Germany), Kaunas Jazz Festival (Lithuania), Manchester Bass Day, The Cooker at Ronnie Scott’s Club, ARGE Kultur (Austria), Greenwich Jazz Festival, Hampton Court Jazz Festival, The Electric Theatre (Guildford),The Farncombe Cavern, Pizza Express Live Maidstone, Jazz at Boaters, The Watershed and many other venues.

With a keen interest to stay in touch with upcoming musicians the Redtenbacher’s Funkestra has also given numerous master classes at colleges like the LCCM in London, the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, ATM Studios in Birmingham, SMTA Blueprint Studios in Manchester, British Academy of New Music in London.

Band members

  • Stefan Redtenbacher – bass, bandleader and writer
  • Mike Sturgis – drums
  • Eran Kendler – guitar
  • Rob Taggart – keys
  • Jim Hunt – tenor saxophone
  • Sid Gauld – trumpet

Featured vocalists

  • Brendan Reilly – vocals
  • Katie Leone – vocals
  • Annabel Williams – vocals

Discography

Redtenbacher’s Funkestra family

In addition to the regular line-up the Redtenbacher’s Funkestra family is ever growing; artists like Stanon Moore (drums), Elliott Randall (guitar), Janek Gwizdala (bass), Gwylm Simcock (piano), Natalie Williams (vocals), Brendan Reilly (vocals), Wayne Hernandez (vocals), Vanessa Hayes (vocals), Dave Limina (Hammond organ) and many other have performed live and/or recorded with the band (see below).

Trumpet

Simon Finch, Paul Jordaneous, Tom Rees-Roberts, Matt Holland, Albert Leusink (US), Lee Thornburg (US), Steve Strand (US), Dave Jensen (US), Dominic Glover, Wolfgang Haeuptli (US), Justin Mullins (US)

Saxophone

Simon Allen, Phil Todd, Chris White, Tom Richards, Graeme Blevins, Duncan Eagle, Andy Ross, Jim Knight, Ben Castle, Thomas Foyer (US), Robert Friedl, Mike Smith, David Woodford (US), Lenny Pickett (US), Andy Ross, Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka (US), Kenni Holmen (US), Kathy Jensen (US), Gilad Atzmon, Sebastian Grimus, Dan Pratt (US), Paul Booth

Trombone

Trevor Mires, Nichol Thomson, Michael B. Nelson (US), Fred Wesley (US), Neal Pawley (US), Neil Sidwell

Flute

Steve Ruby, Stuart Curtis, Andy Ross

Guitar

James Pusey (+ sitar), Nat Martin, Elliott Randall (US), Nic Meier, Carl Orr, Peter Roth, Mike Ciro (US), Tom Reif, Pete Friesen, Erik Krasno (US), Mike Caswell, Chris ‘Santo’ Lamptey, Neal Itzler (US), Junauro Landgrebe (US)

Drums

(the late) Graham Fox, Simon Lea, Darryn Farrugia, Simon Pearson, Stanton Moore (US), Simon Merry, Accy Yeats, Larry Finn (US)

Percussion

Oli Savill, Fergus Gerrand, Gabriel Nuzzoli, Thomas Dyani-Akiru, Jeff Van Veen (US), Bosco De Olivera

Bass

Janek Gwizdala

Vocals

Wayne Hernandez, Louise Marshall, Brendan Reilly, Vula Malinga, Natalie Williams, Mo Brandis, Jono McNeil, Vanessa Hayes, Ana Gracey, Henrik Wager, Lynae, Chinara Sharshenova, Chelo Fansua (US), Katie Leone, Annabel Williams

Keys

Hannah Vasanth, Dave Limina (US), Andrew Noble, Mike Gorman, Simon Carter, Phil Pheskett, Simon Colam, Matthew Regan, Gwylm Simcock, Matt Cooper, Steve Hamilton, Gunther Kurmayr, Jamie Norton, George Moore, ‘Jez’ Davies

Vibraphone & Marimba

Anthony Kerr