It wasn’t until my buddy “Natty” Neal Bronstein mentioned them that I had even heard of The Budos Band – despite the fact that their home base is a free ferry ride away on Staten Island. No no – I won’t be making that trip across New York Harbor anytime soon. I’ll hold out until I can catch the band in Manhattan – or Brooklyn, at least.

Until then, we all have the pleasure of enjoying their spanking new release, The Budos Band III (Daptone Records).

Based on the line-up and instrumentation:
– Brian Profilio – Drums
– Daniel Foder – Bass Guitar
– Thomas Brenneck – Electric Guitar
– Mike Deller – Organ
– Jared Tankel – Baritone Saxophone
– Andrew Greens – Trumpet
– Dave Guy – Trumpet
– Cochemea Gastellum, Tenor Sax/Flute
– Dame Rodriguez – Cowbell/Clave/Tambourine
– Vincent Balestrino, Shekere
– ROB LOMBARDO, Bongo, Congas
– JOHN CARBONELLA JR., Congas/Drums
. . .you’d reasonably expect a straight-up Afro-beat experience. However, the band’s 4th release, “Budos Band III” (following I, II and an ep), is far more nuanced – stylistically and thematically. While some tracks reverently reference the upbeat and frantic music of contemporaries such as Antibalis, other tasty tracks turn darker and more contemplative – hardly the *ss-shaking grooves one might expect. Others add a touch of Memphis soul and Motown groove that would make them perfectly appropriate as background music for Foxy Brown as she goes about disarming some sorry-*ssed fools who dared cross her.

The entire album was recorded over the course of 2 days and has a decidedly lo-fi and live feel to it – all factors that add greatly to the appeal.

All in all, this album is quite an acheivement for a group working in this genre. . .it can often be tough listening to sit through 60 to 70 minutes of Afro-beat. Before long, tracks typically start to blend together and “ear burn-out” kicks in. Not here, though – the changes keep things fresh and interesting (even after 3 full spins today). Well done, gentlemen – well done!

Sadly for me, it will be at least a few weeks before the band will be playing in NYC. . . .but if you’re out on the West Coast, you’re in luck! Check out their myspace page for dates – Budos on MySpace.

In the meantime we can all check them out Spinner, who is streaming the entirety of the new album through Sunday the 15th – Budos at Spinner.