Electro-soul eight-piece Busty and the Bass recently released their new single Baggy Eyed Dopeman. The track features vocals from Parliament-Funkadelic founder George Clinton and pays homage to the funky sound for which George Clinton is famed for.
The track is groovy from the start with the off-kilter keys and a deep, manipulated beat. Then Nick Ferraro’s vocal chimes in, all smooth and polished and with a bluesy edge. As the track progresses the funkiness intensifies with giddy keys and popping trumpets as the vocals are stepped up by a chorus of intense harmonies. The many layers of the track give it a distinct depth that wouldn’t be possible from a group half the size. Each member of the octet, Nick Ferraro (vocals, alto sax), Evan Crofton a.k.a. Alistair Blu (vocals, keys, synths), Scott Bevins (trumpet), Chris Vincent (trombone), Louis Stein (guitar), Milo Johnson (bass), Eric Haynes (keys, piano), and Julian Trivers (drums), has their own very important role to play in the creation of the addictive riffs.
Just when you think Baggy Eyed Dopeman has reached peak funk George Clinton’s distinctive, gruff vocal joins the party. His gravelly vocal lends a rhythm and blues edge to the track and is in wonderful contrast to Ferraro’s high notes. It’s a multi-faceted track that pulls out many surprises along the way and I can see it sparking quite a dance party when played live.
The eight members of Busty and the Bass met during their first week as students in the jazz program at McGill University in Montreal back in 2011. They gigged as much as they could and then went on to release two EPs – GLAM (2015) and LIFT (2016) – before releasing their debut album Uncommon Good in 2017. They have taken to the stage at many festivals such as Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Great Escape and Ottawa Bluesfest.
Find out more about Busty and the Bass here and have a listen to Baggy Eyed Dopeman below.