Seattle’s one-man funk-factory Danny Massure never fails to deliver the goods and the Future Funk Sessions. The Ticklejunk All Stars represent the crème de la crème of the local music scene in Seattle with plenty of phat beats and funky lines from the man himself. It’s a truly ensemble record with Danny working with saxman Michael Deasy Jnr and executive producer DJ Phil Anthony to come up with a potent mixture of soul, jazz and funk, which is totally organic and 110% sample free.

1. Dinky Dao Pho Sho
2. Finally Arrived (feat. Diverse)
3. That Boy's Gone Again
4. Resist Me
5. Calculating The Fade
6. Fair Warning
7. Cias 66
8. Fijar Del Sol
9. Hot Garbage
10. Mas Que Naughty
11. Nasty Friends
12. Wu Sai Na
13. First Rate
14. House of 16
15. Resist Me (Boca 45 Remix)
16. Danny Massure "Soul Cellar (All Good Funk Alliance Remix)"

You might not think that being sample free was a big deal, but it just shows the level of creativity at play here. Every track is completely original. That's right, no old tunes were harmed in the making of this record. MC Diverse gives it the lot on "Finally", while "Calculating The Trade" walks the acid jazz tightrope between dub and funk. The jazz influence is stronger on "Future Funk Sessions" than on Danny’s most recent solo CD, which feels more dance orientated, which is not to say that your feet will be standing still when the Ticklejunk All Stars are on the decks. Au contraire! This is a very groovy record, but definitely for grown-ups who like their tunes and their live music.

This is best enjoyed in a small, sweaty club, with a good cocktail, not in some cavernous arena with cheap beer.

There’s a killer remix of "Soul Cellar" by All Good Funk Alliance, which is actually one of Danny Massure's solo efforts, and a remix of the All Stars' "Resist Me" by Boca 45 just to sweeten the deal and both come with extra beats. These two tunes alone are worth the price of admission. This album quickly became the number one jazz album on Seattle’s KEXP radio station. Maybe it is time the rest of America woke up to the Future Funk Sessions too.

~ Jamie Hailstone

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