While Jurassic 5 takes “four MCs and makes them sound like one,” nine-piece Brooklyn-based funk band Turkuaz highlights the unique and varied talents of an entire group of Berklee-schooled musicians.
Turkuaz, pronounced Tur-kwaz, recorded their first album in 2011. Roommates Dave Brandwein, who is a composer, producer, guitarist and vocalist. Along with Taylor Shell, who is a composer and bassist. The have been making music together for fun. Without their knowledge, a friend submitted a recording to Heavy Rotation Records, Berklee’s own record label. The duo was then invited to be a part of the label’s compilation record and live show. Brandwein and Shell enlisted the help of several musician friends for the gig and Turkuaz was born. Today, five of Turkuaz’s nine members were a part of the original show three years ago.
In a musical era where electronic and remixes permeate the airwaves, it is rare to find a band that is truly old-school. Turkuaz is unique because their stage is filled with people playing actual instruments, not just sound boards.
“We’re a younger band playing older music,” said Craig Brodhead, guitarist and synths man. “It gives us a little bit of a niche and comes from a record we all really like. If you have some degree of authenticity, I think you makes you unique.”
The band’s recently released record Highway 86 is 52 minutes of sheer funk energy that strangely enough, makes you want to boogie with someone you find very attractive and your parents at the same time.
“One of the things I like about the band is that we can play different demographics of people,” said Brodhead.
Instrumentally, the band includes what the usual four-piece bands usually omits: a tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet and tambourines.
A nine-person band means more instruments, but also presents its own challenges. Brodhead explained that space is extremely limited and everything is split nine ways. But how bad could touring America with eight of your friends be?
“When you have that many people, it becomes like a party all the time,” Brodhead said. “Our network is much larger. We have family and friends everywhere in the country.”
Join the Turkuaz funk party this Wednesday night at Cozmic Pizza.
Start with: Bubba Slide
Show: July 16 at Cozmic Pizza located at 199 W 8th Ave. Tickets: $10 at 9:30 p.m.