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Söndörgő just released their live album “In Residence at Müpa” and it’s an incredible collection demonstrating their supersonic speed, skalpel-sharp precision and mega level of musicality. The Hungarian band shows that shredding is not exclusive to jam bands as this group would give any band on the planet a run for thier money. The album was recorded live as part of Söndörgő’s 2025–2026 residency as the Ensemble of the Season at Müpa Budapest. I first became aware of Söndörgő when they opened the GroundUP Music Festival Alberobello 2025 (see live full set on YouTube here).  It’s totally in character ofContinue Reading

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A Day of Unrest is a killer album! That is perhaps in the literal and figurative sense since it is a soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist! Wait—are you confused? Stick with it and it will all crystallize. Eleven 76 is a U.K. duo that puts together imaginary soundtracks, and A Day of Unrest is their fourth in this mode. It’s super intriguing and fun because it’s made with the intentions of old—a conceptual project that should be listened to start to finish. In a bygone era, listening to recorded music was a means of socializing. We’d get togetherContinue Reading

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TRANSMISSION from Huntertones is an outstanding funk horn-driven album that hits all the right notes. I always love horn front-and-center bands, and Huntertones delivers 10 excellent tracks on this release, including two guest vocal covers from Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive) and Kurt Elling. The band formed in 2010 at Ohio State University in Columbus and was named for the street, Hunter Avenue, where they first played music together at underground concerts at an apartment because they were too young to play in standard 21-and-older local venues. I’ve caught them live just once back in 2022 a local festival inContinue Reading

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THE DEY WAY is the spectacular second full album release from the brilliant bassist Mohini Dey. This fast and furious funk album showcases her talent across the board—from composing fab funk riffs, incredible bass skills, and intricate use of Konnakol, a form of Indian vocal percussion or “scatting” in Western vernacular. Mohini was already a successful bass player in India when she came to the U.S. about five years ago at the suggestion of some colleagues. She released her first self-titled album, Mohini Dey, in 2023. She first hit my radar at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2025, playing withContinue Reading

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Experience the electrifying groove of Vigilante; explosive riffs, bold brass, and cinematic energy make this a standout funk metal album.Continue Reading

Open road through a desert with Route 66 shield painted on the pavement and Matteo Mancuso at the top of the image.

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Matteo Mancuso is a global guitar phenom, and his latest album, “Route 96,” is a gorgeous tapestry of musical styles showcasing Matteo’s range of capabilities. To be honest, I was unfamiliar with Matteo until I prepped my GroundUP Music Festival Alberobello Preview and then followed up with a feature spotlighting Matteo’s style and technique. Presumably, the album title “Route 96” derives from his birth year 1996 in Sicily. He started his current band in 2020, released his first solo album in 2023, and then his popularity exploded with the video release of “The Chicken” (which is reprised on this album)Continue Reading

Vibrant mural-style painting of a crouching mountain lion with multicolored swirling trails and the MTN LION text nearby.

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MTN Lion Stealth—Eight Tracks of Analog Funk and Live Vibe MTN Lion Stealth—Eight Tracks of Analog Funk and Live Vibe STEALTH is a fully funkified album from four friends forged together during the pandemic. It’s predestined to be on FunkCity.net’s top albums of 2026, as it ranges from old-school covers like Herbie Hancock’s “Doin’ It” to new-era homages to funk pioneers, as with the tune “Garibaldi.” MTN Lion is a powerhouse Denver-based funk quartet composed of drummer Adam Deitch and guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff of Lettuce, alongside keyboardist Joey Porter and bassist Garrett Sayers, both known for their work withContinue Reading

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The 2026 Newport Jazz Festival is once again an abundance of riches, packing more staggering musicianship across its four stages than many fans experience in years. The festival is taking place July 31 to August 2 at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island. This is the first year curated by Artistic Director Nate Smith, and he’s put together a breathtaking showcase of sheer musicality, uniting pioneering legends with modern visionaries to celebrate the absolute zenith of improvisation and talent. In my initial preview article (Newport Jazz Festival 2026: Must-See Highlights) I covered several of the top acts each day. InContinue Reading

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LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, the latest album from trumpeter Malcolm Strachan, is a delightfully pleasant listen from start to finish. Malcolm is a founding member of the fantastic UK funk band The Haggis Horns, whom I first got hip to when they played on The New Mastersounds inaugural album back in 2001. Look on the Bright Side is Malcolm’s third ‘solo’ album, although he brings in a well-accomplished crew to drive this album like a well-oiled machine. Malcolm is brilliant playing trumpet, flugelhorn, and valve trombone on this album, which is reminiscent of some of the great Donald Byrd soundsContinue Reading

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Champagne Bubblebath is the brainchild of Grant Schroff, the drummer of the great funk band, Polyrhythmics. The music is an elixir of trippy funk and acid jazz. The band is a blend of his Polyrhythmics bandmates, Jason Gray (bass) and Ben Bloom (guitar), along with famed Emerald City funk guitar OG Jimmy James (True Loves, Parlor Greens), with whom Schroff has old-school roots working with the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio many moons ago. The album is a throwback to a bygone era but at the same time brings a new potion to the party. The pairing of Bloom and JamesContinue Reading