Jazz and soul fused
by Gary Beckwith, Evening Chronicle
WEDNESDAY night will see The Cluny reverberate with the funked-up soul sounds of Newcastle soul and jazz band Mamacoca.
The 10-piece ensemble is returning to the North East after a whirlwind tour of the UK which saw Devon, Somerset, Swansea, Norwich, Birmingham and London packed into a tight 10-day schedule.
The groove outfit also managed to squeeze in a live TV performance while passing through Manchester on the city’s Channel M morning show.
The band, fronted by local singer F’reez, is renowned for its mix of laid-back and funkadelic sounds, blending emotions drawn from Herbie Hancock to Led Zeppelin with a healthy dose of Stevie Wonder, producing a funky union of soul and jazz.
Made up of the regular bass, drum, guitar and keyboard personnel, it also boasts a horn section of three plus two backing vocals, topped off with the Jamiroquai-esque vocals of soul master F’reez.
The outfit, which has been on the scene since January of last year, is promoting its debut album Secrets, released on eegluu:records, and currently working on new material.
The album is available from Napster, iTunes and Virgin Digital as well as Play.com and Amazon.
Check out the snazzy website www.mamacoca.co.uk for gig news and footage of the band’s live performances and video diaries.
Mamacoca @ The Cluny, Byker. £5 entry. Doors 8pm
