We’ve had shows where the dance floor suddenly filled 3 minutes into the song and stays that way for another 10 to 15 minutes,
—Chuck V.
Powerhouse New England-based soul-funk jam band, The GroovaLottos, laces us with Mama's Hamper – Pure Phunk (Polyphonic Studios Records, 2021) their latest self-produced. This time around, the band let their fans play the role of A&R. Each song on the album was selected based on a survey of fans, asking their favorite songs from shows and the band’s first album, “Ask Yo’ Mama”. While their first album earned six Grammy nominations in total, the band explains that the project was more of an art album. “This time around, we wanted to think more about streaming and social media spins, and remixes,” explained GroovaLottos drummer and project co-producer, The ZYG 808. The band also wanted to apply more of their developing ‘Thump & Soul’ sound to the tunes. Thump & Soul can be best described as a multi-genre stew of Black musical styles and forms, with elements of soul, jazz, funk, rock, Afrobeat, and hip-hop audibly in the pot.
Adhering to the band’s core principle that an album should be an experience, the result is a retro-soul project that is described as, “a little taste of a Saturday in the 80’s. For example, the song and music video, “Ima GroovaLotto… is the band’s answer to the question: If your band had a Saturday morning cartoon, what would the theme song be? “Do You Mind If We Dance Wit Yo’ Dates?” is the soundtrack to a zany bar fight, in a mock western (a’ la, The Monkees). “The Temple of a Sacred Clown” is the kind of place that the ‘Mystery Machine’ would have pulled up to. “It Just Is” is that song that had everybody dancing while doing chores and watching Soul Train. “The Storm” is that rainy Saturday afternoon when you go to the movies with your friends or stay home and what Kung-fu Theatre. “Ima Phunkya!” is that summer evening song that plays when the ice cream truck has come around. “DEM BIG GIRLZ” is the sound of the blues/house parties that used to take place in West Indian neighborhoods on Saturday nights. “M.I.L.E. (Make It Look Easy)” is a nod to the late-night Don Kirshner Rock Concert television series.
Originally forming in 2009 out of a series of jam sessions between veteran touring and session players living in the Cape Cod area, the band took a new trajectory in 2013 when drummer Eddie Ray Johnson and Keyboardist Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor (who was already an established solo jazz artist) decided to re-tool the band around their mutual love of funk, soul, blues, and jazz- and the understanding that great bands are built around a philosophy, not the sum of its players. The current line-up of the band is dominated by the second generation, all of whom studied with the founders. Mwalim, who functions as band director and elder statesmen, remembers being the young guy in the group. The GroovaLottos now are Chuck V., bass, guitar and vocals; Richard Johnson, bass; Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, keyboards, percussion, and vocals; Shadowmaster, percussion and vocals; and The ZYG 808,drums, percussion, and vocals.
“When you are both a band and a production team, you become acutely aware that the live version and the record are markedly different environments,” said band keyboardist and main songwriter, Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor. At live shows, the band lets the dance floor determine how long a song should go. “We’ve had shows where the dance floor suddenly filled 3 minutes into the song and stays that way for another 10 to 15 minutes,” explained GroovaLottos bassist/guitarist, and Chief Engineer at Polyphonic Studios, Chuck V.,“having jazz backgrounds, we’re also good at switching up grooves and feels.”Housed at Polyphonic Studios in Buzzard’s Bay, MA as the resident production team and session band, the band is actively applying their ‘Thump & Soul’ sound to various projects for labels and independent artists from around the country and region, including iconic New England R&B vocalist, Chops Turner.
The GroovaLottos can be heard live on the 3rd Thursday of each month at The SUPPER CLUB at George's in Brockton, MA. This coming August they will be featured at the Boston Jazz Fest.
To check out Mama's Hamper, follow the band on social media, and find out about upcoming shows near you at their website.
Adhering to the band’s core principle that an album should be an experience, the result is a retro-soul project that is described as, “a little taste of a Saturday in the 80’s. For example, the song and music video, “Ima GroovaLotto… is the band’s answer to the question: If your band had a Saturday morning cartoon, what would the theme song be? “Do You Mind If We Dance Wit Yo’ Dates?” is the soundtrack to a zany bar fight, in a mock western (a’ la, The Monkees). “The Temple of a Sacred Clown” is the kind of place that the ‘Mystery Machine’ would have pulled up to. “It Just Is” is that song that had everybody dancing while doing chores and watching Soul Train. “The Storm” is that rainy Saturday afternoon when you go to the movies with your friends or stay home and what Kung-fu Theatre. “Ima Phunkya!” is that summer evening song that plays when the ice cream truck has come around. “DEM BIG GIRLZ” is the sound of the blues/house parties that used to take place in West Indian neighborhoods on Saturday nights. “M.I.L.E. (Make It Look Easy)” is a nod to the late-night Don Kirshner Rock Concert television series.
Originally forming in 2009 out of a series of jam sessions between veteran touring and session players living in the Cape Cod area, the band took a new trajectory in 2013 when drummer Eddie Ray Johnson and Keyboardist Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor (who was already an established solo jazz artist) decided to re-tool the band around their mutual love of funk, soul, blues, and jazz- and the understanding that great bands are built around a philosophy, not the sum of its players. The current line-up of the band is dominated by the second generation, all of whom studied with the founders. Mwalim, who functions as band director and elder statesmen, remembers being the young guy in the group. The GroovaLottos now are Chuck V., bass, guitar and vocals; Richard Johnson, bass; Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor, keyboards, percussion, and vocals; Shadowmaster, percussion and vocals; and The ZYG 808,drums, percussion, and vocals.
“When you are both a band and a production team, you become acutely aware that the live version and the record are markedly different environments,” said band keyboardist and main songwriter, Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor. At live shows, the band lets the dance floor determine how long a song should go. “We’ve had shows where the dance floor suddenly filled 3 minutes into the song and stays that way for another 10 to 15 minutes,” explained GroovaLottos bassist/guitarist, and Chief Engineer at Polyphonic Studios, Chuck V.,“having jazz backgrounds, we’re also good at switching up grooves and feels.”Housed at Polyphonic Studios in Buzzard’s Bay, MA as the resident production team and session band, the band is actively applying their ‘Thump & Soul’ sound to various projects for labels and independent artists from around the country and region, including iconic New England R&B vocalist, Chops Turner.
The GroovaLottos can be heard live on the 3rd Thursday of each month at The SUPPER CLUB at George's in Brockton, MA. This coming August they will be featured at the Boston Jazz Fest.
To check out Mama's Hamper, follow the band on social media, and find out about upcoming shows near you at their website.
