In the Buzz Bag

Amazon.com
This is an unusual offering for the New York funk/jazz/hip hop outfit, recorded in Istanbul in consortium with local combo Laco Tayfa. Already adept at fusing funk, reggae, Latin, and jazz in their mix, Funk Essentials here add Turkish rhythms and instruments like the kanun, oud, zuma, and clarinet, usually just for color in the dance groove. When things work, as on the title track, it's a highly successful marriage, but at times it is a little forced. The material strays to a couple of sappy "urban contemporary" ballads, but luckily Buzz Bag is generally upbeat, and the band's inherent musicality, humor, and intelligence keep things afloat. The most interesting tracks are the ones that carry the most Turkish influence, but generally this is less a World Summit than a Nu Kultural Flava. --Derek Rath

USA Today
The 12-member, New York-based Essentials blend their intoxicating brew of funk/jazz/reggae with the Middle Eastern sounds of the Turkish/Romanian Gypsy band Laco Tayfa.

In the Buzz Bag,Brooklyn Funk Essentials,Shanachie,Acid Jazz,Club/Dance,Funk,Hip-Hop,House,Jazz Music,Pop,R&B

Average customer rating:

Great Synthesis
Very disappointing
Darmush-var
renassaince starts at the bosporus
Great Job!

In the Buzz Bag
Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Acid Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Techno-House | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Acid Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Make 'Em Like It
Cool and Steady and Easy
Make Some Noise
Dance of the Drunken Master
Here's the Deal

ASIN: B00000AFQ0
Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

By And Bye
Istanbul Twilight
Magick Karpet Ride
In The BuzzBag
Keep It Together
Selling Out
Ska Ka-Bop
You Don't Know Nothing
Freeway To Uskudar
Zuma Preserve

Amazon.com

This is an unusual offering for the New York funk/jazz/hip hop outfit, recorded in Istanbul in consortium with local combo Laco Tayfa. Already adept at fusing funk, reggae, Latin, and jazz in their mix, Funk Essentials here add Turkish rhythms and instruments like the kanun, oud, zuma, and clarinet, usually just for color in the dance groove. When things work, as on the title track, it's a highly successful marriage, but at times it is a little forced. The material strays to a couple of sappy "urban contemporary" ballads, but luckily Buzz Bag is generally upbeat, and the band's inherent musicality, humor, and intelligence keep things afloat. The most interesting tracks are the ones that carry the most Turkish influence, but generally this is less a World Summit than a Nu Kultural Flava. --Derek Rath

Customer Reviews:

Great Synthesis.......2002-11-19

BFE and Laco Tayfa made a great synthesis of Turkish tunes and NY beats. It is so much fun to listen to the fusion between two cultures.
I bought it after listening to the 2 groups live in Istanbul (which was incredible) and have been listening to it since then (since 2000)...

Very disappointing.......2002-03-30

I bought "Cool and Steady and Easy" (BFE's previous album) and loved it; that album showed that BFE could work in lots of different genres with skill and a lot of wit. So, I was excited when this album first came out.

I shouldn't have been. The collaboration with the Turks is interesting at first, but gets old very quickly. The songs all sound alike, and don't have the hooks and twists that "Cool and Steady and Easy" had. The rhythm is particularly bad--same drum segments, over and over, not even the slightest variation. I would say a definite 180 degrees from "Cool..", where jazzy horn solos were followed by a hilarious reggae exposition on a social revolution delayed by, well, just being tired.

So, if you're looking for a first album to buy from BFE, pick up "Cool..."--that one's a winner. If you're a total addict, okay, you might like this release. I'm kinda picky, and deserved better from this otherwise creative band.

Darmush-var.......2000-08-19

Love the cover art--great pic of a dolmush, the old communal taxis that take their name from dolma, which is a stuffed grape leaf. Love the Turkish instruments and the funky blend of cultures. Not my favorite BFE cd, but then I love all BFE cds, they make a great accompaniment to a ride across the Chihuahua desert under a full moon, dreaming of oh-so-sweet chai on a faded kilim spread by the banks of the Aegean, or swimming in the phosporescent pools of Pammuk Kale. Bring on da funk; brink on the Turkish charms.

renassaince starts at the bosporus.......2000-05-11

What can I say about it that hasn't been said already. What can I say to anyone that hasn't heard the great vocality of this CD...all I can and want to say is that it's refreshing, it's renovating and it's the link that Turkey needs to make to the western world. If Turkish politics would follow this example of blending western and ancient music and would apply this on their political behaviour, Turkey would have a bright future. For now, it's only the CD to enjoy...and for now that's more than enough.....

Thank you, Daniël Aksan

Great Job!.......1999-12-25

I like this album very much. The balances of instrumets is really good. I like its sound and I can feel the groove. I got never bored listening it. The band worked with gypsy musicians in Turkey. Most of the Turkish melodies used are real classics in Turkey. I can say they don't create much about Turkish music but they really mixed it quite good with funk and jazz.

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