The Funky Fritters

A powerhouse NYC based 11-member Blues band w/horns serving up a bowl of Funky Gumbo and a Hearty Helpin' of New Orleans Mardis Gras, rock, brass, R&B, jazz and gospel. The Funky Fritters are one of New York's hottest live blues bands

Formerly known as Ma Skillet & The Funky Fritters the band was founded by guitarist Danny Drexler (Whooz Blues, Whisky River, Catfish John) in 2003 when he met original lead vocalist Margaux Laskey at a piano bar and decided they would form a band. With a line up that included Bill Malchow ..s & vocals, Roy Shimmyo from Benicio and the Del Toros on bass and a platoon of Philip Mann and sometime Jessica Simpson drummer Joe Abbatantuono. The original horn section included Travis Sullivan from Bjorkestra (who still makes an occasional guest appearance) and Sean Nowell on sax, Andrew Gold on trombone and Alecia Rau on Trumpet. Back then we were Saturday night regulars at the C-Note, Baggot Inn and Jazz at Detour.

Several key members left the band in ‘05 so the band took a 6 month hiatus before coming back with a retooled line-up. Danny Drexler was joined again by Whooz Blues member Jay Gracin on guitar and Isaac-Davy Aronson on lead vocals. And The Funky Frittatas Shira Silberg & Chey Picardo were added on back up vocals. Robert Gingery (Visible From Space w/Judd Harris American Idol Finalist, Lou Volpe, Matthew Puckett) soon joined on bass with Craig Stewart on Drums and Dan Nachimson ..boards . Our Horn section at that time includes Ryan resky on Trumpet, Bradley Madsen on Trombone and the incomparable Dave Mullen on Sax, who, in addition to his own band Butta, has played with such notables as John Hicks, G Love & Special Sauce, Delfeayo Marsalis, P-Funk, The Brand New Heavies, Roy Ayers, Nile Rogers, The True fellowship Gospel Choir and the Groove Collective.

The Sax position has been a bit of a revolving door since the departure of Mullen in ‘06, with Jessee Sheehan making a short stint and being replaced with our present sax player Tim Veeder. Our present horn section is led by Rachel Phillips on trumpet & Mugwumps, New Groove Orchestra, New York Minute, Jazz Pollution and PsychoTropical Orchestra’s trombonist extraordinaire Nadav Nirenberg joins in a platoon role with Madsen.

Summer of 2008 sees more changes to the Fritters line up with the departure of Isaac-Davy Aronson & Shira Silberg. We are joined by highly acclaimed Alligator recording artist Michael Hill and very beautiful Cindy Lamar on vocals!

Past members, friends & frequent guest performers include: Jerry Jemmott - Bass (Gregg Allman, Aretha Franklin, King Curtis, B.B.King, Wilson Pickett, Robert Flack) Bill Malchow - Keys, Brad Gilley Show less