Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings live session

Watch or listen to the Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings session

Sharon Jones brought her revivalist funk and soul sound to our basement today.  The 8 piece band, The Dap-Kings, skillfully backed up the most soulful singing you'll hear this side of Aretha.

As soon as sound check started, I knew we were going to be in for something special.  A band this size taxes the limits of what our little studio can handle and still provide the quality of sound our listeners expect.  But The Dap-Kings are disciplined musicians who adapted to the cramped quarters and delivered.  Here in the basement, we've been pleasured with many fine performances over the years, but rarely do you find 9 musicians absolutely owning the songs they play, like today's session.  That makes the recording engineer's job infinitely easier, because you aren't going to get any surprises.

 

One different approach I used in this session was the way the drums were mic'ed;  Very old-school and simple.  Kick drum mic. snare mic, and overheads.  That's it.  It gives the drum's a little space and room sound, which fits the retro-funk style.

I hope you get a chance to check out this rare session,  If you can listen to this music and not compulsively move around, check your pulse.

Here's a sample of the session.  The title track to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings latest album, 100 Days,100 Nights.

 

Ray Guarna