Shakatak

Shakatak bring the funk like there is no tomorrow, and have been doing so since the early 80s, coming into prominence during the UK's jazz-funk boom. They have enjoyed a long, successful career and are still touring widely, laying down their heavy grooves in venues around the world. Their performance at Deal Festival in 2013 certainly delivered some serious funk, with plenty of tasty licks to make you gurn in appreciation. The bassist's slapping bass lines were a real highlight, popping along like James Brown on a pogo stick to head-bopping rhythms. The dual flute attack on some of their songs gave the music some soothing melodic adventures over the rhythm section, cresting further timbre diversity. All the musicians are extremely talented in Shakatak, with many wild and tasty solos and lead breaks on show. It was the perfect performance to sit and enjoy a nice cold beer, endlessly tapping your feet and moving your head to the beat, as they cruised through a selection of songs that were full of groove and soul. Having played together for over thirty years, the band are as tight as ever which really helps give a riveting performance, displaying a strong musical connection that they have managed to develop over a long, successful career. And the funk they provide benefits dramatically from this connectivity they all appear to feel towards each other and their music.