The Sugarman 3

The Sugarman 3

The Sugarman 3, also known as The Sugarman Three, is a retro-funk band formed in New York City in 1996. The core members are saxophonist Neal Sugarman, Hammond organist Adam Scone, and drummer Rudy Albin. The band is recognized for its dedication to the sounds of 1960s and 1970s funk and soul.

Formation and Early Years

Neal Sugarman, originally from Newton, Massachusetts, honed his saxophone skills in punk rock bands such as Boys Life and Black Cat Bone during the 1980s. He relocated to New York in the early 1990s with aspirations of pursuing jazz. Following a period in New Orleans, where he collaborated with musicians like Eddie Henderson and Mike Longo, Sugarman returned to New York. It was there that he joined forces with organist Adam Scone and drummer Rudy Albin to form The Sugarman 3. The trio drew significant inspiration from jazz-funk pioneers like "Brother" Jack McDuff and The Meters. Alongside other artists, The Sugarman 3 were instrumental in establishing Desco Records, a label dedicated to releasing both reissues of classic funk and jazz and new material from contemporary acts.

Discography and Notable Releases

The Sugarman 3 released their debut album, Sugar's Boogaloo, in 1998. This was followed by Soul Donkey in 2000, which featured a mix of original compositions and cover versions of tracks by soul legends James Brown and Lou Donaldson. In 2001, the band released the compilation album Sweet Spot, gathering highlights from their first two studio efforts. Their third album, Pure Cane Sugar, arrived in 2002. This release saw the band collaborate with notable guest musicians, including funk percussionist Bernard Purdie and vocalists Lee Fields and Charles Bradley. The album garnered critical attention, with Tom Moon of Rolling Stone describing it as "organic, locked-tight music." Maurice Bottomley of PopMatters praised its infectious quality, suggesting it would "watch your coolest friends unwind and start to Boogaloo." However, Andy Urban of Dusted Magazine noted that while the album sounded good, it operated "in a vacuum of sorts," being aesthetically relevant but fundamentally anachronistic.

Neal Sugarman's Wider Musical Contributions

Beyond The Sugarman 3, Neal Sugarman was also a founding member of The Dap-Kings, alongside Gabriel Roth. Throughout the late 2000s, Sugarman worked extensively as a session musician, contributing to albums by a diverse range of artists including Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Robbie Williams, Al Green, Nas, and Mark Ronson. He also played on recordings by The Dap-Kings, fronted by vocalist Sharon Jones. A notable collaboration outside of his own projects is the 2004 single "You Don't Know What You Mean (To A Lover Like Me)" by Lee Fields and The Sugarman 3, which was later featured on the soundtrack of the 2008 film Soul Men.