The Big Hustle

++++++++++++++PREORDER NOW!+++++++++++++++Limited edition 300 copiesBonus 7" vinyl "78 Funk (Full Mix)" + posterComes with digital download card including 4 exclusive tracks unreleased on vinyl:"Too Good" / "6020" / "Free Rider" / "I Thought It Was You"PS:The digital download is unfortunatly not active..We will send you by wetransfer automaticely the files (mp3 or Wave)Sorry!!BétinoRelease:February 11th 2021Parisian jazz/funk collective The Big Hustle returns to the spotlight with the release of its 3rd LP titled For Life on Betino’s records, the label run by the famous parisian Betino’s Record Shop.The collaboration is renewed after releasing two EPs in 2017 and 2018, both well received by the critics.Like the art work chosen for the album cover, an original creation by artist Anthony Caseiro, The Big Hustle definitively asserts (For Life!) its identity, its values, demonstrating once again the strength of the collective, and more than ever, in this uncertain 21st century, as being custodians of the true organic music of the 70’s jazz/funk US tradition.After Live large published in 2018, an album that featured many prestigious vocalists (Shaun Martin, Cheick Tidiane Seck, Julie Erikssen, Mike « Maz » Maher, Electro Deluxe, Kohndo, Raashan Ahmad, the band has chosen for this new opus to focus on the core of the group : Sébastien Levanneur (bass), Bruno Pimienta (drums), François Faure (keyboards), Benjamin Delarue, Jo Champ (guitar), Jérome Cornelis (alto sax, guitar) and Sylvain Fetis (tenor sax).However a few special guests are present, including virtuoso saxophonist Baptiste Herbin (Ed Motta, Roy Hargrove...) who offers us a magical solo on Ultimate Hustle. Marie Sané, rising star of the Parisian soul scene, lays her velvet voice to give life to the afro pop Worldwide boy. Fred Dupont (Paco Sery, Dam'n'co, Angèle), a keyboard sorcerer, brings his touch and sensitivity to the organ and the clavinet. Other players include Adrian Edeline (Clara Luciani), Rémy Béesau (Seal), Claude Egea (Ray Charles, Michel Legrand) and Evan Weiss and Ben Bohorquez from the Texas jazz funk band The Funky Knuckles.Funk in all its shades and hues remains more than ever the essence of this album especially on tracks like 78 Funk and Detroit Girl Remix. We can however note big band jazz influences in Ultimate Hustle with its fair share of brass, afro pop in Worldwide boy, hip hop in For life, psychedelic in GAB, modern gospel in Krispy and So far so good, or rock in Detroit Girl Remix. For the album For Life, a special attention was paid to the production.The band that had been recording in live condition up to now has this time opted for track by track. Hence the global sound of the group benefits from a more advanced and elaborate production. We can discover new sounds brought by the post-production with effects such as delay, compression adressing dub, hip hop and other current musical trends. The artistic orientation has been to privilege mastery and precision over spontaneity and the raw side of the beginnings.Nicolas Gueguen (Union Analogtronics, Beat Assailant, NTM, Booster …) is once again at the control, bringing his know-how to reveal the best of each track and highlighting all the subtleties of the arrangements and interpretation.The Big Hustle is decidedly ready to evolve in today's musical world and far beyond.For Life!

Word of advice to funk lovers; there is not a minute to lose. Get on board of the Big Hustle’s spaceship. Before we take off, let's do a little history. The band was founded in 2014 by bass player and composer Sébastien Levanneur and its aim is to bring together 70's old school funk with the hippest actual sound laced with influences spanning from Steely Dan and Headhunters, to Snarky Puppy and Soulive. With mighty horn players, a rock and funky rhythm section, the Big Hustle's music has a very large variety of soundscapes.The first destination takes us to the Washington, D.C. area with “Turn Up”. The groove is clearly go-go music flavored with the trademark sound of cowbells and of course it reminds us of Zapp by the use of the talk box on lead vocals, performed here by Saad El Garrab. And don't miss out Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy, Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin amongst others) as a very special guest performing the talk box solo! Second stop is “A Curse, A Blessing”. It’s an instrumental very much in the Freddie Hubbard vein during his CTI years. The last leg of the A side ends with an instrumental interlude titled “Flying Donut”. Double tribute to Jay Dee and Flying Lotus, the music is a simple hip hop loop based on samples.The B side takes us back into the past with two brilliant covers, involving Rod Temperton the late great British songwriter who scored some of Michael Jackson's biggest hits. Now the idea for this B side is to do the opposite approach from the A side. Taking 70's and 80's original music and make them travel into time to 2018. We first land with a Heatwave song named “The Star Of A Story” from their 1976 Central Heating album. Track 2 is a Herbie Hancock song named “Gettin' To The Good Part” from his 1982 Lite Me Up LP. This Time Traveler EP journey ends with an interlude. Called “Gimme Dat”, the song deals with the need of new music, new sound.Again, this blend of deep rooted funk laced with a contemporary edge is to be consumed without moderation. And do not forget that E.P. also stands for extended pleasure.

The Big Hustle est un groupe parisien formé en 2013 influencé par le funk et le jazz électrique de ces 10 dernieres années (Snarky Puppy, Soulive, Lettuce, Electro Deluxe).Avec sa section cuivre puissante et précise, une rythmique funky et rock’n’roll à la fois et la présence de percussions dans le groupe, la musique de The Big Hustle possède une palette de couleurs extrêmement large, vaste et variée passant d ambiances calmes à des passages de furies sonores et également des moments dance floor. Le tout restant toujours dans l’esprit groove et funky.Tous les membres du Big Hustle sont musiciens professionnels menant des carrières aux multiples horizons, les amenant à collaborer ou jouer avec des artistes talentueux de la scène française notamment Nina Attal, Manu Dibango, Malted Milk, Charles Pasi, Juan Rozoff, Electro Deluxe, Beat Assailant...Depuis ses débuts en 2013, the Big Hustle s'est produit dans de nombreuses scènes parisiennes (Divan du monde, Caveau des oubliettes notamment) et enregistré un premier EP 6 titres.Une session live filmée a également été réalisée en octobre 2014, 4 titres vidéo sont en ligne.WORLD WILDE « C'est l'envie de jouer ensemble, créer, partager, rencontrer, voyager grâce à la musique, mélanger nos goûts et surtout jouer en live... » nous répondrait Sébastien (leader du groupe) avec sa simplicité légendaire, si on lui demandait d'expliquer le concept du groupe. Aussi simple soit-elle, cette réponse résume bien l'univers global de l'album. Les escapades dans des mondes parallèles comme le Rock, le Hip Hop, l'Afro Beat ou la Soul ouvrent la voie à de multiples fusions, expérimentations et improvisations de haut vol. Si l'on sent un parfum de nostalgie des années 1970, le Jazz-Funk de The Big Hustle est en pleine phase avec son temps, avec les sonorités actuelles qui nous promettent encore quelques beaux lendemains pour cette musique d'antan.The Big Hustle s’entoure sur l’album d’une vingtaine d’invités pour donner encore plus de volume à un son déjà bien massif. Trombone, harmonica, violoncelle, scratchs... la recherche des timbres est à chaque titre une nouvelle aventure. Thomas Faure, le saxophoniste et arrangeur du désormais légendaire groupe Electro Deluxe, est venu porter sa caution au projet en participant à un titre de l’album. L’américaine Melissa Mc Millan, Nina Attal, le rappeur Beat Assailant, Jo Champ et quelques autres jolis grains de voix apportent une petite touche vocale bienvenue dans cette profusion de beats et de grooves. Comment avec toute la complexité rythmique, la technicité, la sophistication des arrangements ont-ils réussi à garder l’ensemble accessible et digeste ? Le secret réside dans la quête de groove qui n’a jamais quitté Sébastien depuis sa rencontre avec Motown mais aussi dans sa soif d’ailleurs, dans sa passion pour les voyages qu’il tente de traduire à travers une musique ouverte sur les sonorités du monde.