Rising star organist Sam Fribush and four-time GRAMMY-nominated guitarist Ari Teitel (The Rumble/Dumpstaphunk) have joined forces with four-time GRAMMY-nominated drummer Adam Deitch (Lettuce, Break Science) to create a groundbreaking organ trio album that fuses vintage funky soul-jazz with cutting-edge hip-hop production. Recorded straight to a vintage Tascam tape machine at Colorado Sound Studios, their highly anticipated debut LP Another Side of the Sound is set to drop on May 23rd, offering a bold reimagining of the classic organ trio format. Today, listeners can get their first taste of the album with the release of the lead single "Chester."
"Chester" is an ode to groundbreaking organist Chester "CT" Thompson best known for his 26 year tenure with Santana and virtuosic foot pedal work often matching every note he plays in his left hand on pedals. Thompson had a ten year stint with legendary Bay Area funk, soul, and R&B powerhouses Tower of Power, who each member of DTF cite as a hallmark influence in their musical careers. "Chester represents 3 musicians playing greasy, unadulterated, instrumental funk in the purest format - to tape without a click track. We're all Tower of Power fans, so this was a groove that poured out easily from all of us at the end of a long session," says Teitel.
The song is the only song off the record that was composed on the spot, completely unplanned with Deitch directing each section, "It encapsulates the vibe of the whole record: soulful, fresh, and spirited," states Fribush,
"Due to our shared love for the rhythm section intricacies of Tower Of Power, this song just sprouted from a pure moment in the studio," echoes Deitch.
This project blossomed from a deep-rooted musical connection between Greensboro native Fribush and Detroit-born Teitel, who first crossed paths while performing at a church in Uptown New Orleans. A New England Conservatory graduate, Fribush has earned acclaim for his soulful, groove-driven organ work and collaborations with artists like Charlie Hunter and Hiss Golden Messenger. Known for his ability to seamlessly weave traditional jazz with contemporary rhythms, Fribush has established himself as a sought-after force in today’s jazz scene.
Teitel’s genre-defying guitar work and commanding stage presence have made him a fixture in Detroit’s vibrant music community. As a founding member of the two-time GRAMMY-nominated band The Rumble, he’s also toured with New Orleans funk powerhouse Dumpstaphunk and contributed to countless projects that showcase his mastery of funk, rock, and jazz traditions.
To elevate their sound to the next level, Fribush and Teitel enlisted the talents of Adam Deitch, a globally acclaimed drummer and producer with a genre-spanning résumé that includes jazz, funk, hip-hop, and electronic music. As a founding member of funk juggernaut Lettuce and one-half of the electronic duo Break Science, Deitch has collaborated with musical icons like John Scofield, Talib Kweli, 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean, Justin Timberlake, Meshell N’DegeOcello, Pretty Lights and many more. His razor-sharp timing and deep-pocket grooves proved to be the perfect fit for the trio’s dynamic vision.
The album features a captivating blend of original compositions and eclectic covers, including a soulful reinvention of The Allman Brothers’ "Midnight Rider" and a fresh take on Bel Biv DeVoe’s 1990 new jack swing anthem "Poison." From the greasy, Meters-inspired funk of "A La Gator" to the spacey, hip-hop-infused "Good Morning," the record brilliantly showcases the trio’s wide-ranging influences and exceptional musicianship.
Behind the console, sought-after recording engineer Josh Fairman was the perfect fit to capture the essence of classic organ trios with a modern spin as his resume includes work with funk mainstays The New Mastersounds, The Motet, and more. Once tracking was complete in Colorado, the album was passed to New Orleans-based GRAMMY-winning mixing engineer Mack Major, who added a polished, refined touch to the recordings, ensuring that the trio’s intricate arrangements and infectious energy were captured with vivid clarity.
By merging the rhythmic soul of classic '60s and '70s jazz with the pulse of modern beats, Fribush, Teitel, and Deitch have crafted a sound that feels both nostalgic and boldly contemporary. Their debut LP promises to captivate listeners, solidifying their place at the cutting edge of modern jazz and funk. Reflecting on the project, Teitel shares, "We're three musicians who deeply respect classic funk, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B and wanted to make a record the old-school way. All of us in the same room cutting to tape. We all tap into our influences like Jimmy Smith, J Dilla, The Meters, and Tower of Power while playing with a modern edge, and wrote tunes that serve as vehicles for all our inspiration to shine."
To learn more about the project and pre-order on vinyl, please visit https://samfribush.com/fribush-teitel-deitch.
