Redtenbacher’s Funkestra & Horn House Unite on “Old Blood (Vinyl Cut)”

Release date: Friday, August 8, 2025
From the upcoming album: FUNKOPIA (Out October 3, 2025)
Label: RSB Records

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A Full-Circle Collaboration

The story of Old Blood (Vinyl Cut) begins in the mid-90s at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Austrian bassist Stefan Redtenbacher and Scottish trombonist Nichol Thomson first met as students. It was here that Redtenbacher’s Funkestra was born, recording their first album before both musicians eventually relocated to London.

Nichol went on to become a sought-after side-man for some of the world’s most respected artists, while Stefan steadily built the Funkestra’s legacy, releasing a string of original jazz-funk albums and leading high-profile collaborations.

Twenty-five years later, the two reunited, bringing Nichol’s powerhouse horn section Horn House into the Funkestra fold. The result is Old Blood — a horn-heavy, groove-soaked instrumental track with cinematic flair and a nod to Stefan’s lifelong love of vintage vampire flicks. The title itself is a subtle wink at their long musical history — a full-circle moment.

The Sound of “Old Blood”

In its Vinyl Cut form, Old Blood delivers a tight, bold arrangement with Afrobeat-inspired horn riffs, deep pocket bass, and vintage Hammond and Rhodes textures. The track captures the energy of a live-in-the-studio session — authentic, dynamic, and dripping with groove.

Musicians

(In alphabetical order of last name)

Horn House

  • Andrew Michael Ross – Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones; Alto Flute
  • Nichol Thomson – Tenor & Bass Trombones
  • Tom Walsh – Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Rhythm Section

  • Stefan Redtenbacher – Bass
  • Ross Stanley – Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes
  • Ian Thomas – Drums
  • Karl Vanden Bossche – Percussion

Production

  • Produced by: Stefan Redtenbacher
  • Recorded at: Masterlink Productions, Surrey, UK
  • Horns recorded by: Horn House
  • Recored and mixed by: James Welch
  • Mastered by: Tim Debney (the original ‘Old Blood’ was mastered by Marco Meniconi)

Credits

  • Composition: Stefan Redtenbacher, Nichol Thomson, Tom Walsh
  • Arrangement and produced by: Stefan Redtenbacher, Nichol Thomason
  • Horn Arrangements: Nichol Thomson
  • Label: RSB Records
  • Artwork: photo by Rob Blackham, graphic design by Neil J Hart

Pre-Save & Album Info

🎧 Old Blood (Vinyl Cut) drops Friday, August 15 — pre-save HERE.

📀 The track will also feature on the upcoming Funkestra album FUNKOPIA, out October 3, 2025, on vinyl, digital, and streaming.