This seasoned, well-honed unit is on the money.

 

– Blues & Soul

Brooklyn Funk Essentials are back to serve up a new single out today ‘Take The L Train’ with two tracks ‘Take The L Train (To B’klyn)’ (2024 Version) and ‘Take The L Train (To 8 Ave.)’ (2024 Version). The tracks are new recordings of the BFE classic cuts from debut album ‘Cool & Steady & Easy’ on the 30th anniversary year of its original release in 1994 on Dorado Records.

LISTEN TO IT HERE:

https://lnk.to/taketheltrain

The original Brooklyn Funk Essentials’ debut album ‘Cool & Steady & Easy’ opened with the track ‘Take The L Train (To B’klyn)’ and closed with ‘Take The L Train (To 8 Ave.)’ with the unique concept of a roundtrip subway ride into New York’s south eastern borough. The song was written by BFE founder, co-producer and bass player Lati Kronlund, who had the idea for doing the beats driven Brooklyn version while riding the subway from Brooklyn to Arthur Baker’s Shakedown studio in New Jersey where the album was being recorded. The title ‘Take The L Train’ was meant to be a twist on Ellington/Strayhorn’s classic ‘Take The A Train’, as well as The O’ Jays ‘Love Train’.

Both versions are among Brooklyn Funk Essentials’ fans most loved songs with over 6 million streams on Spotify to date. The song has been sampled widely and has stayed on the band’s setlist throughout the years, so it was natural for BFE to re-record it for the 30 year celebration.

The 2024 recordings were recorded live in the studio by the band and stay loyal to the original arrangements with the beats driven ‘To B’klyn’ version and the mellow electro jazz ballad of ‘To 8 Ave.’, but with a smokey, darker, more dubby feel.

Lati Kronlund said “Imagine a late night session with Stan Getz and King Tubby, kinda! The main reason we wanted to re-record selected cuts from ‘Cool & Steady’ was to capture the groove and interplay we have developed together as a group over the years, which is quite different from the original 90s productions.”

Both new recordings feature the tenor saxophone of Loïc Gayot and on the B’klyn version is upcoming star trombonist Ebba Asman. Kristoffer Wallmanplays piano and synths – all with the solid backing of the rhythm section consisting of Hux Nettermalm on drums, Lati Kronlund on bass, Desmond Foster on guitar and upright bass and Rickard Valdés on congas.

Originally founded by Lati Kronlund and the hip hop legend Arthur Baker, BFE have over 30 years and seven albums, established a worldwide following for their music that fuses Soul, Hip Hop, Spoken Word, Jazz, Latin and of course Funk. From celebrated debut album ‘Cool & Steady & Easy’ in 1994 which in scored an underground hit with the version of Pharoah Sanders and Leon Thomas’ ‘The Creator Has a Master Plan’, while tracks like ‘Take The L Train’ and ‘Big Apple Boogaloo’ became DJ favourites. Upon its US release, ‘Cool & Steady & Easy’ was awarded Best Alternative R&B Album of the year by Billboard and has achieved over 16 million Spotify spins to date. Next followed 2nd album ‘In The Buzzbag’ in 1998, ‘Make Them Like It’ in 2000, ‘Watcha Playin’” in 2008, ‘Funk Ain’t Ova’ in 2015, ‘Stay Good’ in 2019, and most recently ‘Intuition’ in 2023.

‘Intuition’ featured a string of hit singles; ‘Scream’, ‘AA Side Single’ and ‘How Happy’. Of the first single ‘Scream!’, Jazz FM said “I’m a little bit addicted to it” and “Here is a tune that we’re all loving, it’s just so good”, and Blues & Soul called it “A stonking cut of Afro Funk blessedness”. The follow up ‘AA Side Single’ was equally well received, Jazz FM said “It sounds particularly good on a Friday!” and Blues & Soul called it “A funk behemoth”. When 3rdsingle ‘How Happy’ dropped, Jazz FM gushed “Alison Limerick sounding sublime on that choppy, funky tune!”.