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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

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NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL is the best ‘jazz’ festival in the United States, keeping true to its origins, history, and legends while simultaneously bringing forth new and emerging artists and styles. The 2026 event sustains the NJF run of excellence with its stacked stellar lineup. It’s an abundance of riches, as the festival packs more talent across four stages and three days than most fans will see in a whole year or more! Each day has a legendary headliner closing out on the main Fort Stage: Vulpeck on Friday, Kamasi Washington and Chief Adjuah celebrating Miles, Coltrane and Rollins on Saturday,Continue Reading

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Kinga Głyk, the fabulous Polish bassist, is about to embark on her first U.S. tour with seven dates in nine days! She’s been touring the world for nearly ten years and wowing crowds with her electrifying performances. I reviewed her fifth album, Real Life (click for link), when it came out and it was one of my top albums of 2024! I was lucky enough to catch her live set at GroundUP Music Festival Alberobello and it was an overall highlight. Kinga first set foot in the U.S. in January 2026 as part of Michael League’s residency at The BlueContinue Reading