Kung Fu’s latest CD Joyride is packed with hard driving funk. It’s the kind of CD that will keep listeners moving from the dance floor to listening mode. Many moments find this band delivering lively, danceable music. Other moments find them shining as true musicians, offering a plethora of notes that dance, spiral, sing, or soar as these finely disciplined players take their sound in any direction they choose.
Opening track “Daddy D” finds the Kung Fu boys offering chunky drum and bass work while the harmony vocals are beautifully influenced by 1970s soul. Throw in some keyboard boogie and listeners have a song that cruises through a jumpy, bouncy landscape of sound. One cannot help but have fun moving to this one, and an electric guitar maneuvers its way through the groove with an alluring presence.
Instrumental “Chin Music” is bracing, racing, trippy fun. The tune seems to never slow down while offering a mega dose of notes from every instrument. Rob Somerville’s tenor saxophone never quits, blowing a twisty line that moves around with the willful presence of a tornado. Everyone in the band is funking so swiftly that it’s likely to challenge the most athletic dancers to keep up with this on when they play it live. It’s just a spinning top of wildly appealing boogie that never loses steam, leaving the listener with many fine moments to admire, like a drum solo that requires much dexterity as it moves through the fast lane.
“Vroom” sounds as empowered as its title. This piece vrooms with drums and bass providing the engine for a lot of nimble work from horn, keyboard, and electric guitar. One can almost envision the bass lines having a life of their own, rumbling out their brisk authority and dancing, pirouetting with a blissful, lively sax line. The tune eventually slows things down so bassist Chris DeAngelis can pluck his strings with artful, tasteful flourishes. He’s not just part of a funky entertainment. He’s a true musician who can create art with fanciful bass work.
Title track “Joyride” swings into action around a whirling horn line. Before you know it, there are swift rapids of bass guitar and bass drum beats. Heavenly vocals make this feel somewhere between an anthem and gospel as the vocals ooze out smoothly over that infectious bass line. Funky guitar riffs layer their own sweet treats, and the tune feels like something that was made from scratch, brisk lines from each instrument thrown up into the air and coming back down into perfect place, each part fitting in just right to create a tight ensemble.
“Speed Bump Of Your Love” has a more soulful lead vocal. Somerville releases just enough of his emotive voice to get his point across. Hearing his voice cruising over a charging motion of instrumentation is a treat in and of itself. He sings it with the energy of a man longing to be free while giving off a lot of high voltage charisma. It doesn’t hurt that there is some real sassy lead guitar funking its way through the soundscape, an involving presence to be sure.
“Prime Time Rib” smokes like your favorite meat on the grill. This one grooves along with a jaunty motion. Funky guitar riffs dial up an engaging boogie before a self-restrained saxophone line darts it and out of the proceedings with a regal presence. Every player has attitude in this one, and each lets the listener know it with an adherence to the philosophy of showing off, in a good way.
Next up, “The Get Down” is a snappy guitar fest. Tim Palmieri plays with the expressive freedom of jazz, making every little one of his perky notes count for something special in the sound. His melodic line is brittle in texture and smooth in flow. “Gold Coast,” named after the Bridgeport, Connecticut studio where this CD was recorded, finds DeAngelis pumping out some nice chunky bass guitar lines beneath assertive, wide sweeping arcs from guitarist Palmieri. Together, the two gallop into the horizon with a purposeful stride, taking the rest of the band along with them, each injecting something propulsive into this tune. Meanwhile, Adrian Tramontano drums up a lot of rolls and fills, making his kit feel like something that could power an ocean freighter.
Kung Fu close out their CD with “Samurai,” an engaging piece of ensemble work. This aggressive tune finds the boys playing many parts in fierce unison. It feels like they’re going as fast as they are to see if anyone cannot keep pace. It’s impressive how they keep all of their instruments on the right path while playing with an incredibly tight discipline.
Spirit, spunk, and style, Kung Fu has it all. Their new Joyride album kicks into overdrive on every song, taking their listeners for a thrilling, wild adventure each time.
