Butter Funk Family

Butter Funk Family

You don’t just hear or see funk music. You feel it. It travels through your body like a surge of electricity, bringing you to your feet and right to the dancefloor with a primal magnetism. As if stepping right out of spaceship from the seventies and into a post-social media world in dire need of connection, the Butter Funk Family channels the energy of classic funk for the 21st century and beyond. Led by two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum powerhouse artist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Printz Board, the Los Angeles-based collective—Nadav Peled [guitar], Brent Tyler [drums], Eric England [bass], Jay Flat [saxophone, flute, backup vocals], and Sam Harmonix [lead vocals]—unlock an undeniable and unbreakable groove with no shortage of grit and gusto. With horns blaring, guitars bobbing and weaving, and vocals roaring straight from the gut, you’ve got no choice but to move… “Every time we play, I say the main mission is to spread love,” exclaims Printz. “I want you to take away this good feeling and spread it wherever you go. I hope you have the best time. Even if you don’t remember the song, I hope you remember the moment and treasure it. I want you to be sweaty, happy, and funky!” During 2019, Printz assembled Butter Funk Family and built a buzz around Los Angeles with a series of showstopping gigs. A family of 35 rotating musicians would grace the ranks alongside the six core members. Printz handled producing, arranging, and playing trumpet. Adding different flavors to this sauce, Israeli guitarist Nadav drew on a background in jazz and fiery chops to boot. Meanwhile, Brent pulled from a diverse palette for the percussion, incorporating everything from African to funk, of course. Bassist Eric nodded to his Philharmonic background to add even more heft to the vision. Then, there’s Printz’s self-described “partner-in-crime” Jay Flat whose uncontainable energy resounds through the sax and flute. North Carolina native Sam Harmonix completed the puzzle with his booming bluesy soul vocals. In 2021, Butter Funk Family launched a regular residency at a Los Angeles hotspot where they regularly peppered classic funk sets with incendiary originals. On any given night, they would electrify deep cuts by Lafayette Afro Rock Band, Maceo and The Macks, and Incredible Bongo Band, offering up a bit of a much-needed history lesson. “I wanted to educate the kids, if you will,” smiles Printz. “I was hearing all of these artists sampling old school jazz and funk, so I wanted to show everyone where this came from. It became this beast of a project where no one else was doing this. I got my crew, and these guys are the best. It enables me to be a frontman, master of ceremonies, and guide everybody on their trip like the cruise director.” At the same time, they continued the tradition of the genre with their own tunes. The band contributed “Gotta Get Mine” to the Dreams From The Edge Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Meanwhile, they flexed their brand of funk full force on the 2021 anthem “Fired! Fired!” Now, they ignite 2023 with the EP “Downtown”. With a backbone of pure funk, it pays homage to the maître d at Black Rabbit Rose, in one of the songs, with boisterous and bold tribute befitting of his presence – “Action Jackson”. “His name is Jackson, and he’s such a good dude,” notes Printz. “He’s got a long white beard, and he’s always in a three-piece suit. He talks like he’s straight out of a Blaxploitation film. From the moment we walked through the door, he was so great to us. He’s got all the answers. He can handle anything. He’s a superhero. He’s ‘Action Jackson’.” Ultimately, Butter Funk Family makes music for everyone. “This project sits in the nice pocket for ages 8 to 80 because it’s so fun,” Printz Board leaves off. “Kids, intellectuals, and old folks can all love it. It doesn’t fight against anything. It doesn’t force you to have an opinion. It’s just fun whether you’re a country crowd, folk crowd, or jazz crowd. You’re going to get funky with us.”