Soulive

Featuring brothers Alan (drums) and Neal Evans (Hammond B-3 Organ) alongside Eric Krasno (guitar), the band came together towards the end of the 1990s. All well-versed in previous jam band projects, Soulive wanted to move to more funkier, jazzier territory, to which they have succeeded with aplomb.

Before releasing their own music, Soulive established themselves as a live act, playing alongside the likes of John Scofield, Maceo Parker, Robben Ford and Los Lobos, soon gaining their own headline slots. In 1999, they released their debut EP, “Get Down,” which was soon followed by their first full-length, “Doin’ Something” in March 2001, which featured John Scofield.

Blending soul-jazz with hip-hop’s rhythmic sensibilities, Soulive’s music is tantalisingly danceable, giving James Brown and Sly Stone a run for their money. Signed to Blue Note with their first release, they continued to record a steady string of albums, with “Next” in 2002, followed by 2003’s self-titled effort. In 2005, they moved to Concord, offering fans “Breakout,” as well as a collection of live recordings that captured their incendiary live performances.

In 2007, Soulive moved to the legendary Stax label, with “No Place Like Soul” arriving shortly after. Celebrating their tenth anniversary in 2009, the trio released “Up Here,” followed a year later by the Beatles covers album, “Rubber Soulive.” Another tribute album came in 2012, “Spark,” which was dedicated to the work of soul-jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks.