Upcoming gigs

Funk School

2% Jazz, 98% Funky Stuff

Funk School is a ten piece funk band from Congleton in Cheshire. Built on the reputation of the successful Groove Merchants Ltd. it aims to establish itself as one of the funkiest bands in the North West.

The music is heavily influenced by James Brown and his backing band 'The JBs'. The sound of Maceo Parker's alto sax, alongside awesome brass arrangements by trombonist Fred Wesley, took the world by storm and influenced bands such as 'Average White Band' and 'Tower of Power'. The infectious grooves and lively rhythms were guaranteed to get people dancing.

Funk School aim to emulate this musical style and have prepared a set consisting of some of the finest tunes in the genre. Tight brass arrangements punctuate the funky rhythm section and souring diva vocals fuse with growling male shout outs and raps to create a spicy gumbo of a performance.

The band is lead and managed by Carl Brunsdon, a graduate of the jazz course at the City of Leeds College of Music. All of the musicians in the band have been vetted for their musical expertise and down-right funkiness. Its continuing mission; to play 2% jazz, 98% funky stuff!

'We're gonna have a funky good time!'

Click here to listen to 'Funk School'.

Check out our band MySpace at: www.myspace.com/funkschoolband

Funk School Band Biographies

Carl Brunsdon
Alto Sax/Vocals

Carly B likes his funk. Raised in Cambridge, he cut his teeth on a diet of New Orleans Jazz and funk created by Dr John, The Meters and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Carl went on to study Jazz at Leeds College of music and now tours internationally with 'The Australian Pink Floyd Show'. When Carl isn't playing his alto you'll find him shouting stupid things like 'Hah!' and 'Mercy!' over the mic. He also has the job of organising the other reprobates in the band and stopping Alex from drinking too much. If you really want to annoy him just shout 'play Baker Street' or sidle up to him and ask for the theme tune to the 'Pink Panther'.

Anna Chappel
Tenor Sax

Anna is tall. Not just average tall - we're talking Xena, Warrior Princess - head in the clouds - Gulliver in Lilliput - colossus. She's capable of lobbing her mouthpiece cover with incredible accuracy over large distances so it's advisable not to annoy her in any way. Her drinking habits match her freakish height and she has frequently been observed still struggling with her music stand after everyone else has packed away and gone home. Anna has a great tenor sound and if Carlsberg made sight readers, she'd probably be the best in the world.

Steve Heywood
Trumpet

Steve is cool - except when he wears his jacket because then he just looks a bit warm. His trumpet sizzles above the rest of the brass section as he parps his horn. A mere young'an, Steve now lives in Oxford and never did go off to study music at the Birmingham Conservertoire. He's often seen gracing the pit band of many theatre productions and musicals. Steve is a bit of a tech head too and is responsible for the band's great looking MySpace site.

Tobias Newman
Trombone

Toby is one funky motherhubbard. His raw, gutsy trombone sound emulates such jazz/funk greats as Fred Wesley and Gary Valente and he is able to reach the dizzy heights required by Carly B's arrangements without the aid of a ladder or a safety net. He's a fully qualified music graduate which pretty much makes him unemployable. He is also quite possibly 'the greatest dancer' and can often be seen getting jiggy with it ......... whatever that means.

Rachel Cook
Vocals

Rachel is a fully fledged, qualified chanteuse. Having graduated from Leeds College of Music recently with a Pop Music degree she is now working the city's music scene in a number of her own bands. Rachel has a soulful voice that enhances the Funk School sound and she is able to emulate the vocal prowess demanded by many of the disco tunes in the set.

Clare Beresford
Vocals/Percussion

Clare can talk ..... fast! Fortunately, we've fitted her vocal mic with a special universal translator and speech tempo adjuster so that when she sings she's comprehensible. With a 4 octave range and more bounce and enthusiasm than Tigger on amphetamines, she is one of the most exciting divas to ever grace the stage. Oh, she spanks bongos and congas in a blurry, frenzied whirlwind too. Clare is also a total thespian and is pursuing a career as a professional actress. Her productions have been critically acclaimed and she has appeared at such prestigious events as the Edinburgh Festival.

Alex Bond
Guitar/Vocals

Alex is a dude. His passion for music and outright groovability shine through on stage. A major Hendrix nut, he knows every guitarist's gurning face and will throw them together in an almighty combo when soloing. Alex is a great guitarist, singer, actor and prankster and is often the brunt of jokes and general abuse. Alex is also the founder and one third of the popular funk outfit 'The Box Groove Coolers'. He's one vain dude too.

John Gunstone
Keyboards

Gonniz is a welcome edition to the BMF clan because he has a van. He is a certified genius of the keys and cut his gigging teeth with Otis Grand and Bernie Marsden before finding his inner groove. He is also a great fan of pies and crisps and has too many chins. Gonniz looks a bit like Jabba the Hut (though he would probably prefer 'Pizza the Hut'.....with extra toppings). He enjoys cheese in moderation.

Callum Harvie
Bass Guitar

Callum is the coolest cat around - it's undisputed. He's a competent performer on the fat wires and he loves the funk. Don't let the fact that he's a young 'whipper snapper, soon to become a rapper' fool you - he possesses tons of groove. Callum is a great pianist and sax player too - the multi-talented swine.

Stuart Mann
Drums

Stuart Mann is one of those rare drummers who is able to read music, prompting many a hick to cry 'we got ourselves a reader!' before disembowelling him with their banjo. Stuart has a degree in Contemporary Music from LIPA, Liverpool and is a fine player with oodles of groove. You may also have seen him performing recently with his band 'Strawhouses'. Stuart owns a great disco outfit consisting of a sequined green jump suit modified with his own kingsize mars bar.