Never has a body of music been more aptly named; the new CD from Britain’s Down To The Bone is most certainly SUPERCHARGED!  Have you seen that TV commercial where the young man with long hair is sitting in front of a huge pair of stereo speakers?  You can tell the music is cranked up full bore because his hair and neck scarf are blowing straight back as if he was in gale force winds.  Well, that’s my experience with Supercharged.  From start to finish, all 11 tracks are high intensity, full throttle, jazz-funk groove. Don’t worry, you won’t go into serious funk overload; I guarantee you’ll be pushing the replay button at the end of track 11 to hear it all over again…and again.

If you’re not familiar with the Down To The Bone project, here’s something from the liner notes that says it better than I can.  “Down To The Bone is the brainchild and creativity of Stuart Wade, a non-musician who uses his production skills to work with talented musicians to write and arrange his ideas using his love of ‘The Good Groove’ to bring forth this project, to try to bring back some of the funk and excitement into the music of today.”

Hearing the CD for the first time, a wave of recognition swept over me.  There is something so familiar about this music. Think “The Meters meet James Brown meets Tower of Power meets Maceo Parker meets Average White Band.”   To illustrate this point, the track “Electric Vibes” leaps out and grabs attention. No wonder! Guesting is renowned vibraphonist Roy Ayers. “Ayers is linked with practically every funk movement… since the ’70s,” Wade claims.  It was Wade’s lifetime dream to collaborate with Ayers. “He’s one of my biggest inspirations. I grew up on his music, even his stuff back with Herbie Mann. I never thought working with him would happen.”

At the recording band’s core, jazz-funk rhythms are conjured by drummer Adam Riley, alternating bassists Richard Sadler and Julian Crampton, and guitarists Tony Remy and Ian Crabtree. Toss in to the mix various keyboards, synths, and organs from Neil Angilley and Neil Cowley. Add the stellar horn section of saxman Paul “Shilts” Weimar and The D.C. Horns - Pete Grogan on alto sax, Jon Radford on trumpet, Bob Dowell on trombone - to heat up the groove and bring on some melody. The soulful voices of special guests Hil St. Soul on “Smile to Shine” and Corrina Greyson on “Shake It Up” bring exquisite allure the album. This talented ensemble of artists definitely brought their “A” game to the party.

“This disc has a little bit more of a live, jam-band attitude. I wanted to make it a lot rawer and retro in its feel,” says producer and band creator Stuart Wade. “I thought our music was becoming over-produced. I wanted to take it back to what I was doing in the beginning but injecting a lot more funk and a full-horn section.”

The first and title track “Supercharged” immediately sets the mood.  This is a full on, soul funk instrumental with a tight, vibrant horn section.   “Funkin' Around” fuses jazz and funk brilliantly, featuring several stand out solos from Radford, Dowell, Weimar, Grogan, and Cowley on rhodes, clav, and synth.

“Parkside Shuffle” will be the first track you’re likely to hear at smooth jazz radio. With the great interplay of Weimar’s sax, The D.C. Horns, and Angilley’s piano, it sounds like summer. Put the top down and turn up the volume. Perfect for cruising.

Don’t be fooled by the title, this is no time to zone out. “Cosmic Fuzz” really gets down with funky bass, edgy guitar, hot keyboards, superb sax solos, and horn section riffs.

Next is the mid-tempo groove of “Smile to Shine” featuring Hil St. Soul with her rich, deeply soulful vocals. She shares co-writing credit on this track with Wade and Crabtree. Born in Zambia, relocating to the UK at age 5, Hilary Mwelwa was raised on a diet of soul, R&B, gospel, and pop music.  Smooth jazz fans may be reminded of Randy Crawford, Maysa, Angie Stone, India.Arie, and Angela Bofill.

You’re in for a treat with “Electric Vibes,” featuring legendary vibraphonist Roy Ayers. This is the high point of the album. The galloping groove and rhythmic interplay between Ayers’ spicy vibes and famous scat singing, along with The D.C. Horns and Cowley’s keyboards make a mighty joyful noise!

“Greedy Fingers” gives way to a feisty vibe, brought on by the husky horn and rocking guitar solos.

From British singer Corrina Greyson comes “Shake It Up,” with her commanding soul vocals, funky breakbeats, and soaring trumpet solos.  Throughout the track, the entire band is cookin’!

“Space Dust” is a spunky groove instrumental with Weimar’s sax solos and smokin’ D.C. Horn sections. Angilley gets down on Hammond. Check out the very funky bass line from Crampton. Drummer Riley deserves some kudos for his rhythmic ingenuity here, and throughout the album for that matter.

Just when you think you’ll get a chance to catch your breath with the mellow intro to “Hip City,” guitar, rhodes, clav, and bass are jammin’ by the end of the track. 

Closing out the set is “Make It Funky” where bass and percussion lead into a full-blown horn ensemble sound. Cowley is simply wicked on hammond, rhodes, clav, and piano. Stuart Wade, you are The Funkmeister.

Do yourself a favor, run - do not walk - to your nearest music store and get yourself a copy of this CD. A good place for Supercharged is in your car stereo all summer long. Play it loud!

- Anne Aufderheide