Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Brooklyn Funk Essentials (BFE) emerged in 1993 as a dynamic acid-jazz, funk, and hip-hop collective, bringing together musicians and poets from diverse cultural backgrounds. The group was the brainchild of producer Arthur Baker and bassist/musical director Lati Kronlund.

Founding and Early Years

The initial lineup featured a rich array of talent, including vocalists Hanifah Walidah (also known as Sha-key), Joi Cardwell, Papa Dee, and Stephanie McKay. The poetic voices of Everton Sylvester and David Allen added a distinctive dub poetry element. The instrumental core comprised Josh Roseman on trombone, Bob Brockmann on trumpet, Paul Shapiro on saxophone and flute, Yancy Drew and Tony Allen on drums, E.J. Rodriguez and Danny Sadownic on percussion, Desmond Foster and Masa Shimizu on guitar, ATN Stadwijk and Yuka Honda on keyboards, and Bill Ware on vibes. DJs Jazzy Nice and Smash provided turntable expertise.

Breakthrough and Acclaimed Albums

By the mid-1990s, Brooklyn Funk Essentials had become a fixture on the New York City club circuit. Their 1994 debut album, Cool and Steady and Easy, achieved underground success, particularly with their rendition of Pharoah Sanders's "The Creator Has a Master Plan." The album also boasted notable guest appearances from Maceo Parker, The Tower Of Power Horns, Michigan & Smiley, and even Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1998, BFE released In The Buzz Bag, an album that incorporated Turkish folk music rhythms and instruments, recorded in collaboration with the Turkish band Laço Tayfa. This project became a landmark in collaborative music-making, earning BFE a Grammy nomination and propelling them to stadium-level performances in Turkey.

The year 2000 saw the release of their third album, Make Them Like It. This record continued the celebratory fusion of genres that characterized their debut, blending funk, Latin, reggae, jazz, house, dub, electro, and hip-hop. Fan favorites from this album include "I Got Cash," "Mambo Con Dance Hall," and "Woman Thing."

Hiatus and Resurgence

Following a world tour in 2001, the band members took a hiatus to pursue individual projects. Despite the break, BFE's music continued to be featured on compilation albums globally, and offers for recording and touring remained frequent.

In the summer of 2006, a core group of BFE members reunited as BFE Sound System for a tour across three continents, reimagining classic BFE tracks with electro and dub influences. By the end of 2006, the Sound System concept evolved back into the band's original all-live funk lineup. This iteration featured Hanifah Walidah, Papa Dee, and Everton Sylvester on vocals, Lati Kronlund on bass, Yancy Drew on drums and vocals, Desmond Foster on vocals and guitar, Iwan van Hetten on trumpet, keys, and vocals, and Philippe Monrose on percussion. The group continued their global touring schedule in 2007.

New Music and Continued Evolution

In the spring of 2008, Brooklyn Funk Essentials released their new album, Watcha Playin’. The songs on this record were developed and written during the band's extensive world tours, with recording sessions taking place in studios across New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Stockholm, reflecting the international scope of their creative process.