Naughty Professor have been one of my favorite horn-driven, funk bands for over 10 years. The six-piece band puts the two-sax + trumpet horn section front and center for their shows and pumps out massive funk jams. “Voices” is their fifth full-length album and as indicated from the title, each track features a guest vocalist.
Back on their fourth album, “Identity,” in 2017 (they also had the EP, “Everyday Shredder,” in 2019), NP had a mix of guest vocalists and instrumentalists on each track. Further, I know the band and Snarky Puppy have mutual respect — and Snarky Puppy has cut “Family Dinner, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2” with guest vocalists on both. So, it’s a smooth evolution to the “Voices” album which showcases not only the vocalists, but a wide range of musical styles, depending on each performers background and singing style. The overall effort is an exhilirating mix of soul, funk and ballads in a tasty jambalaya coming to you straight out of New Orleans. Here’s my track-by-track coverage coming at you.
Track By Track
Daydream (Chrishira Perrier) is an enigmatic song featuring an electric New Orleans singer Chrishira Perrier who sounds a bit like Macy Gray at the beginning and Corinne Bailey Rae throughout. Both singers are favorites of mine so no surprise I like this song. The enigmatic part comes from the lyrics that signal an escape from the “sunshine” into the “river” to float away. The song is light and airy and a highlight is the gentle shuffle from Sam Shahin on drums anJafet Perez on percussion . The horns behind the chorus are steady but subtle — during the bridge the mood is accentuated by the muted trumpet of John Culbreth. The dream closes with a lush hymnlike fadeout to great effect.
Scrollin’ (Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball) is a star vehicle for Tank who just won the Grammy for ‘Best Spoken Word Poetry Album’ with her band Tank and the Bangas. The tune alternates between spoken word in Tank’s sing song voice and beautiful soulful vocals. The lyrics are about scrollin’ on the phone after a breakup longing for good times. The main accompaniment is from keys and a continuous horn melody.
Gotta Get Back (Josh Kagler) sounds like a Tower of Power throwback tune, so of course, it’s one of my favorites. It starts with a little drum role and a super catchy horn line with the signature ToP baritone sax scoops. Josh Kagler comes in and he could fit right in to any era of the band with the growl of the ToP singer Rick Stevens and the soaring sounds like Nigel Hall of Lettuce. One line in the lyrics is, “get funky, let it course through your veins” – is that a tease of ‘Soul Vaccination?’ The horn section punches rapid fire funk nonstop. The closeout with Josh power vocals, the horn line, and then the horn riffs and rounds right up to the altissimo ending makes it extra special.
Anytime (Jermaine Holmes + Rojo Lavoe) is a midtempo soul tune that opens sounding like a cross between Parliament and Roy Ayers. It’s got a tender guitar line from Bill Daniel and also highlights the excellent bass work of Noah Young. Jermaine Holmes and Rojo Lavoe blend perfectly. The chorus continues with the layered vocals, some flute in the background and Noah with some fine 16th note bass work. The percussion work from Snarky Puppy’s Nate Werth is the cherry on top of all of that.
Supernatural (Berkley the Artist) is a gorgeous love song and Berkley the Artist has a silky voice that fits perfectly. The anthemic line “all the money in the world couldn’t buy this,” seems to be a balm to soothe a mourning soul on a second line from a departed loved one. It’s a great set up for his soaring vocals supported by the horn calls and the tender piano for the closing chorus.
Saturday Sinner (Marcus King, Jelly Joseph) pairs two fantastic singers, Marcus King, the young blues star out of Greenville, SC with his own band, and Jelly Joseph, the current touring vocalist with Galactic. King takes the lead vocals and guitar in this soul song about a illicit weekend love affair. Naturally, there’s a twangy guitar solo midway. In the back half , the horns and King play off one another with keys sounding like Sunday services. King has a monster solo to close out this winning tune.
Wings to Fly (Maggie Koerner) features one of my absolute favorite female vocalists. Nobody emotes like Maggie and this song is a great representation of her skills moving from soft and tender to full blown lioness. It’s a healing song for anyone who’s got emotional wreckage encouraging the listen on the road to recovery. The volume and strenght increases throughout the song with the horns coming on in the second half. Bill Daniel struts out a terrific guitar solo with the horns flying before Maggie closes it out accompanied only by Andriu Yanovski on keys.
Old Faithful (Jordan Anderson) feels like a classic Memphis soul tune and in particular Jordan Anderson sounds like Rev. Al Green. The horns play some rolling licks and Anderson rolls on with them. There’s the first real sax solo here and it’s a classic. Jordan has his own band, J and the Causeways and I’m anxious to check them out.
Somebody (Sam Kuslan) starts with a lush piano intro, soon joined by the full band with some funky bass and soulful horn licks. It’s natural since Sam is outstanding on keys. One time at an Atlanta show, Bill Daniel couldn’t make the gig and Sam quickly filled in playing guitar parts on piano so he goes a ways back with NP. This song could fit in easily in the repetoire of Vulfpeck or Lawrence. It’s got it all – great instrumentation, lyrics and vocals in a sweet package. San takes a chill solo to close out the song and the album, oh so sweet.
Naughty Professor are:
NOAH YOUNG (Bass)
IAN BOWMAN (Sax)
JOHN CULBRETH (Trumpet)
BILL DANIEL (Guitar)
SAM SHAHIN (Drums)
NICK ELLMAN (Sax)
