Bournemouth-based Chris Pedley met up with Brothers Dan and Rich at a dodgy function gig around six years ago. The trio then went on to write and perform their unique style of dirty funk. The band released three 7-inch singles and their first album, 'Ten Paces' on Bournemouth label, Arse Records, before being taken on by independent label, Peddler Records in 2004. They have since toured Japan twice, have released two 7-inch singles, the second featuring the voice of London Nu-Jazz/Broken Beat sensation, Vanessa Freeman (Reel People/Kyoto Jazz Massive). Their second album, 'In With The Out-Crowd', was recorded live at The Camden Jazz Cafe, London. Peddler Records have also released two 12-inch remix records of The Baker Brothers' music, featuring mixes from Quantic Soul Orchestra, Nostalgia 77, Domu, Break Reform, Trevor Loveys, Jon Kennedy and Dr Rubberfunk.
The Baker Brothers have been chipping away at this album for the past two years, trying to carve a new sound for themselves, partly through the beautiful vocals of Vanessa Freeman, as well as through collaborative work with individual brass-players.
'We were originally well into our gritty funk instrumentals, however, beating our instruments to death wasn't proving musically satisfying. We believe that if you're not moving forwards, you just slide backwards. We didn't collectively make an active decision to change direction, but over this past year our sound has evolved organically into something a lot more soulful and song-based. A heavy-funk band coming of age! Recent collaborations with vocalists and horn players have helped us forge a more refined sound. We've kept the sound tough, but put a lot more thought into the writing and the performance...soul power!!!'
Together and separately, The Baker Brothers have built up a soul-based set of tunes that, whilst staying true to their dirty roots, also shows that these boys want to grow and grow.
Comments:
Paul Clarke (DJ Mag/ BBC Collective)
I'm trying to pitch a feature to BBC Collective about live funk bands (them, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Dap Kings et al) so I'll let you know about that or if I can get it reviewed anywhere.
Paul Sullivan (Various Press)
Liking it sir, will be pitching it around this week to the usual suspects.
Found Sounds (DJ Magazine)
Yep just been checking it out: its OK: prefer the instr. Tracks: like All Baked Out / Keepin? Together /Ponky Wockett: and thought Vanessa Freeman track 'Aware Of Reality' was the nicest vocal cut. The last track is kinda nice too (Spental) as it moves away from the more 'one open mic' funk recording technique!
Chris Crates (Vinyl Meltdown: ALL FM Manchester)
'What you do is right' - 'Hold on' - 'Winding rhythm' all getting plays from me! I'm into the whole album really - anything in the key of funk and soul works for me. If I had a favourite from this album I'd say it was 'Winding Rhythm''
Its unusual but extremely pleasing...heavy funk rhythms and dirty horns...a slight, albeit welcome, change in direction for The Baker Brothers. - Notion Magazine
Baker Brothers take their queues direct from the source and add nuances of modern production and dancefloor grooves...when the grooves are reigned in the grooves are tight. 3/5 - DJ Magazine
...belting out furious afrobeat jams or getting deep into your mind with killer jazz rhythms. Through Kyoto Jazz Massive?s vocalist Vanessa Freeman they have successfully matured into a more soulful outfit - Soulgeneration.co.uk
Best known for their instrumental raw funk workouts, the baker brothers have added a vocal element for this, their second collection. The music as you might expect is a near flawless expression of the vintage deep funk sound (with a healthy smattering of Afrobeat) and the vocals certainly sound the part, but there?s ever the nagging suspicion that the instrumentation would be best served up without the lyrical garnish - The Crack
It?s something of a masterstroke - iDJ
Chris Pedley and Dan and Rich Baker proved an enthralling spectacle with their ?03 debut ?Ten Paces? and last year?s live set from London?s Jazz Caf?, ?In With The Out-Crowd?. While impressive when effortlessly slow-handed, the Bakers really ignited the crowd with devastatingly up-tempo romps of pure funk and jazz - drums, bass, guitars, brass all aligned in one perfect movement, leaving nothing to unrehearsed chance and instantly getting bums off seats. ?Dozen? evolves by de-intensifying and with greater attention on vocalists over killer solos alone. The trio are directed by Vanessa Freeman, herself a perfect exponent of a genre in its purest form after the straight up soul-R&B of her ?Shades? album. It?s undeniably perfect material for that late night barbeque or catching an after hours tipple on a summer?s evening, its consummate musicianship creating an easygoing, unpretentious sophistication to be thrown on at any time. For want of a better term, it?s mature, and happy to just coast along securely. Dare it be said, it?s what audiences will seek out in order to pep up an unfashionable CD collection. Amongst the Bakers? more reserved poise and panache remains a smidgen of past rawness. Munsters organs flesh out ?Keepin? Together?, and the all-action jam ?All Baked Out? features a main guitar solo bubbling like hot sauce on the hob. Supple plectrum action, skins given a royal slapping and a real vintage feel build ?Ponky Wockett?s Revenge?, while ?Peace of Mind? is one to saunter to in your own time, nonchalantly shifting hips from right to left. Those wowed by The Baker Brothers? previous dust-ups will be sceptical of the middle lane/coffee table they?re intent on occupying here. But for purists unimpressed with the way funk and soul has been sullied down the years, ?Bakers Dozen? is a treat to be toasted for sunshine days and sticky nights to come. 4/7 - One Week to Live
live-feeling, home-grown, organic grooves played with some passion and commitment. Best bits on this thirteen tracker are the collaborations with vocalist Vanessa Freeman -
The Baker Brothers are two real brothers ? Dan and Rich, plus Bournemouth-based Chris Peddey. Drawn together by a love of funk they formed a band and this, I think, is their third album and I can recommend it to you if you dig live-feeling, home-grown, organic grooves played with some passion and commitment. Best bits on this thirteen tracker are the collaborations with vocalist Vanessa Freeman. The opening pair ? ?What You Do Is Right? and ?Walk Into My World? show what an underrated talent she is ? a fact confirmed on the tender ballad, ?Aware Of Reality?. It?s a sweet tune enhanced with strings, while ?Winding Rhythm? is the kind of song that you might associate with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and in some ways that the analogy I?d make. This band has the same kind of feel ? though because of their age, their end music is rougher and less sophisticated. Hear that best on ?Hold On? a real old 60?s soul romp while ?keepin?Together? is a lot funkier and in places jazzier. The oddity on the set is ?Don?t Turn Your Back On Me? which features a rap from Nathan Johnson. It?s not hard-rapping mind you, more jazz-based, but it does seem out of place on this kind of set. - Blues & Soul
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