Summer funk vibes with Young Jack ft. Paolo Nutini's Horns of Thunder

Article Contributed by Freeman Promotions | Published on Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Born out of a collective of musicians & creatives from Kingston-Upon-Hull, Young Jack are a UK funk phenomenon ready to stand up & tell the world how to get down. With their latest Double A-Side single Move / Mojo, released on fiercely independent Hull label Warren Records, this family of funk ambassadors dish out spiritual rhythms & groovy vibes, topped off with the organic sounds of Paolo Nutini’s Horns of Thunder.

Having recorded sessions for BBC Humberside Introducing & performed at Kendal Calling, Humber Street Sesh & Hull’s Freedom Festival, Young Jack have also received a stamp of approval from the godfather funk himself George Clinton. They live and breathe their music in the here and now with a body of work that truly encapsulate the spirit of the funk genre and its cultural footprint.

First up on this latest offering is the track Move. Although distinctly British, it contains flavours reminiscent of Parliament / Funkadelic & Miles Davis’s On The Corner period. Lyrically its described by lead vocalist Luke Bowe as “a song about our frustration with the confusing times we’re living in and how people can be the holders of their own fortune by letting go of all that’s holding them back – change the way you think now, move…

Other track Mojo continues in the same vein musically but with touches of Rick James in its vocal delivery. It’s a song about elevating the senses & reconnecting with the fun side of funk. There are underlying themes of addiction and “the monkey on your back” inspired by seeing their friends and family crumble when their social structure isn’t running smoothly but Young Jack believe their songwriting should be open to individual interpretation by the listener - take what you like and leave the rest.

Young Jack are Luke Bowe (lead vocals/guitar), Danny Higgins (guitar/vocals), Ben Morrod (Bass) & Jack Allbones (Drums) along with The Horny Brass (aka Paolo Nutini’s Horns of Thunder). Born of Irish & America roots, Luke & Danny grew up together making music in Danny’s room, with a huge canvas of Bob Marley looking over them & getting inspired by a wide range of artists from Funkadelic & The Brothers Johnson to Carole King & Kraftwork. At 14 they bought fake IDs & soon found themselves getting down to Prince in the mosh-pit when he played Leeds. Enter Warren Records’ Stew Baxter (also the drummer in Life) & things start to take shape with Young Jack rehearsing at the back of legendary Hull venue The Adelphi. Meanwhile, local graffiti pioneer Pinkie, who back in the day was interviewed by indie soothsayer John Peel no less, was creating Young Jack’s visual representation with his vibrant imagery.