2024 was a buzzing year for the Funkestra. I produced and co-produced a ton of new music with the Funkestra being either the featured or backing band for other artists. Integral to all this are the Masterlink Sessions which I run with James Welch (Masterlink Productions) and Leo Mansell (Shoot and Splice Films). We invite artists that we like to shoot a 100%-live-in-the-studio video and release the music. Many artists have come back and hired us ‘lock, stock and barrel’ to create their singles, EPs or albums. The Funkestra being the defacto Masterlink Sessions studio house band à la The Swampers or Funkbrothers.
As the volume of our creative ouput has been steadily rising we felt it was time to come up with a new plan to release the music. Traditionally the Funkestra has – with a few exceptions – always released instrumental Jazz Funk originals, either penned by myself or in collaboration with other writers, sometimes solely written by musicians associated with the band.
A lot of the Masterlink Sessions have been vocal-led, mostly in the soul and blues genres with the occassional rock and pop tune touching upon Americana, singer-songwriter and easy listening. Shout out to Mark Ede who has introduced us to a good amount of established and upcoming artists. Many of them have stayed friends and we continue to work with them in various capacaties.
Vocal-led and instrumental music seem to be the major two strands. Consequently you can now hear all the instrumental original Jazz and Funk tunes on the Funkestra channel and all the vocal led tunes on the Stefan Redtenbacher | Masterlink Sessions channel. The vocal tunes are normally released in collaboration with the artist and the Funkestra, being the ‘featured’ rhythm sectionand is listed under ‘appears on’. Some artists have already released studio versions of their originals and grab the opportunity to create a live-in-the-studio version with the ‘Masterlink Sessions’ suffix. Having discussed this with all relevant parties at lenght this seems to be the best solution to the most benefit of all.
Of course the lines are a little blurry – there are a few vocal-led Masterlink Sessions tunes on the Funkestra channels but as a general direction – you’ll find upcoming vocal releases on the Stefan Redtenbacher | Masterlink Sessions channel. Maybe you want to follow the Stefan Redtenbacher channel on Spotify HERE or on Apple HERE.
And, possibly stating the obvious, the GREAT thing about most of the below releases – you can WATCH the videos as well as enjoying the music on your favourite platform. HERE is the Funkestra YouTube channel and HERE is the Masterlink Sessions B2B Vimeo channel.
We have a lot of exciting releases in stock for 2025. ‘FUNKOPIA’ a full-fledged horn driven Jazz Funk album by the Funkestra and ‘MASTERLINK SOUL SESSIONS, VOLUME 1’ by Stefan Redtenbacher and friends being two key releases. More info to come but not before we are looking back at our releases in 2024.
Digital vs physical releases
I probably should specify that by release I mostly mean ‘digital’ release. Although most of the music is available on CD and some on vinyl. It feels like that CDs are on their way out although in comparision to downloads they are still tactile, i.e. something to hold on to after a concert. Yes, vinyl have made a little bit of a comeback yet production and retail costs remain relatively high. At times it feels that both CDs and vinyl are diminished to a notepad on which a fan can collect a signature. Framed more positively, many fans buy CDs or vinyl to support the artist but will listen digitally for convenience. Hands up for downloads? [imgagine tumbleweeds…] That’s what I seem to experience. Either way, any CD or vinyl you’ll buy from me is always offered with free download codes at request.
Note: All releases by RSB Records except where indicated. W3 is probably one of my favourite UK Funk bands. Their EP ‘Live at Masterlink’ has nothing to do with the Funkestra yet as we are sharing the love for Funk and the EP is on my RSB Records label I thought I simply list their single releases here too.
JANUARY
‘Bring It On’ by Elles Bailey and Funkestra from the EP ‘Nightowl and the Lark’.
(Label: Outlaw Music)
‘Jordan’ by Elles Bailey and Funkestra from the EP ‘Nightowl and the Lark’.
(Label: Outlaw Music)
FEBRUARY
‘In da Haus‘ by Austrian-British Jazz Funk Collective Backwood Five.
‘Night Ride Home’ by Funkestra feat. Mim Grey. A single from the ‘Joni Reimagined’ album.
‘NIGHTOWL AND THE LARK’ EP by Elles Bailey and Funkestra.
(Label: Outlaw Music)
‘Gu’ by W3 (awesome Funk band with regular Ronnie Scott’s performances). This is from the EP ‘Live at Masterlink’
MARCH
‘River‘ by Funkestra feat. Mike Mayfield. A single from the ‘Joni Reimagined’ album.
‘Little Green’ by Funkestra feat. Sarah Jane Morris. A single from the ‘Joni Reimagined’ album.
APRIL
‘Get it’ by Funkestra. A single from the ‘Live your Best Dream’ album.
‘Jonky’ by Funkestra. A single from the ‘Live your Best Dream’ album.
MAY
‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ Prince classic reimagined by Amba Tremain, Stefan Redtenbacher feat. the Funkestra.
‘Peckham by Day‘ by W3 from their ‘Live at Masterlink’ EP.
‘Live Your Best Dream’ by Funkestra ft. Carter Arrington. From their album ‘Live your Best Dream’.
‘LIVE YOUR BEST DREAM’ album by Funkestra.
Key tracks: ‘Live Your Best Dream’, ‘Ghostfish’ and ‘Soul Crusade’.
JUNE
‘Woodstock’ Joni Mitchell cover by Jana Varga, Stefan Redtenbacher feat. the Funkestra. From the ‘Masterlink Soul Sessions, Volume 1’ album.
‘Circle Game’ Joni Mitchell cover by Hamish Stuart (Average White Band) and Friends. This is from the ‘Joni Reimagined’ album.
‘Captain Caruso’s Mandolin‘ by W3 from their ‘Live at Masterlink’ EP.
‘JONI REIMAGINED’ album by Funkestra feat. Hamish Stuart, Rumer, Jo Harman, Mike Mayfield, Jana Varga, Sarah Jane Morris
Key tracks: ‘A Case Of You’, ‘Amelia’, ‘Two Grey Rooms’, ‘Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow’
JULY
‘Blood & Whiskey’ by Funkestra feat. Tucker Antell from their forthcoming ‘Funkopia’ album.
‘Man Size, Get In Line’ by Rosie Frater-Taylor and Funkestra. Double single release.
(Label: Cooking Vinyl)
AUGUST
‘The Fool’ by Funkestra feat. Mike Outram from the forthcoming album ‘Funkopia’.
‘Superstition’ Stevie Wonder cover by Amba Tremain, Stefan Redtenbacher feat. Funkestra. Single from ‘Masterlink Soul Sessions, Volume One’.
‘Bring It On Home’ by Eddy Smith, Stefan Redtenbacher, feat. Funkestra. From ‘Masterlink Soul Sessions, Volume One’.
SEPTEMBER
‘Hang Up Your Hang Ups’ Herbie Hancock and the Headhunter’s cover by W3. From ‘W3 Live at Masterlink’.
‘The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey’ by Funkestra feat. Ross Stanley (Hammond organ). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni’ album.
OCTOBER
‘The Fiddle and The Drum’ by Funkestra feat. Ross Stanley (Hammond organ). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni’ album.
‘Hard Times’ by Dave Limina and Ross Stanley. A Hammond organ duo by two of the prominent players on the international scene. This was a synchronised release with a Masterlink Sessions ‘live in the studio’ video.
‘I don’t Know Where I Stand’ by Funkestra feat. Pat Levett (harmonica). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni’ album.
NOVEMBER
‘Money Ain’t No Truth’ by Diana Silveira, Stefan Redtenbacher, feat. Funkestra. From ‘Masterlink Soul Sessions, Volume One’.
‘If’ by Funkestra feat. Pat Levett (harmonica). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni’ album.
‘Black Crow’ by Funkestra feat. Tucker Antell (saxophone). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni’ album.
‘Featherweight’ (Deluxe Edition) by Rosie Frater-Taylor. Two collaboration tracks with the Funkestra: ‘Man Size’ and ‘Get In Line’.
(Label: Cooking Vinyl)
‘Take Me As I Am’ Rumer feat Funkestra. From the forthcoming Rumer ‘In Session’ with Redtenbacher’s Funkestra album
(Label: Kartel Music Group, Ciancia Management)
DECEMBER
‘Cyprus Avenue (radio edit)’ by Jo Harman, Orphy Robinson, Stefan Redtenbacher, feat. Funkestra. From ‘Masterlink Soul Sessions, Volume One’.
‘A Case Of You’ by Funkestra feat. Ross Stanley (Hammond organ). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni’ album’.
‘Shoes’ by Phil Lassiter, Stefan Redtenbacher, feat. Funkestra.
‘Slow’ Rumer feat Funkestra. From the forthcoming Rumer ‘In Session’ with Redtenbacher’s Funkestra album
(Label: Kartel Music Group, Ciancia Management)
‘River’ by Funkestra feat. Mike Outran, Simon Johnson (guitars). From the instrumental ‘The Colours of Joni album’.
‘That Old Upright’ by Georgia Van Etten, Masterlink All Stars. From the annual Masterlink Sessions ‘Blues and Christmas’ show and part of the ‘At Christmas’ album. Simultaneous release with the Masterlink Sessions Christmas live stream
Where can you get the physical stuff?
I’ve recently set up the FUNKIFY LIFE (RSB Recods) store. Check it out HERE. There is a lovely first time customer discount and this store is wired into Spotify and YouTube – pretty handy!
My long-term FUNKSTORE is part of the Funkestra website and currently has a lot more items then the other store. This includes vinyl, CDs, sheet-music, big band arrangements. T-shirts and speciality items. Have a look HERE.
Thank you for watching, listening and coming to live performances!
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