Andrea Merida + Band in Denver, CO

SEEKING

ABOUT

NOW AUDITIONING DRUMMERS AND GUITARISTS

We've got gigs coming up in a month and need to get some people dialed in asap. There will be some work to put in, but in the end it'll be worth it. The band is great!

We're looking for a drummer that has a strong funk background and who can handle second line. If you can express yourself along the lines of Galactic, Lettuce or Soulive, let's talk. Second line is a MUST. Check out our be playlists; search for "gumbolefunque."

We're looking for someone who can handle the genre but who can make a commitment to stick with the band and develop the sound with us. The right fit is someone who is open to some travel; mountain gigs are part of the deal, and we take special pain to get the right pay to make it worth your while. We play decently-paid gigs, and our schedule through the year is pretty full.

You should be old enough to actually be able to work in a 21+ venue. If you are not ready to commit or have trouble playing well with others or speaking your mind in a constructive way, this may not be the right fit for you. We don't have time to waste on someone who can't collaborate or take constructive criticism and FIX issues. Check us out at gumbo le funque (dot) com.

We need to see good technical and musicianship skills, and you should have your own gear in good working condition. We do have a kit for use in our practice space. You must be funky and tasteful, and you should know how to set up transitions and endings. If you can't keep your volume or tempos under control, or if you refuse to learn our show, this won't be a good fit. Treat it like a cover band if you have to...cover OUR tunes.

Please take time to listen to our stuff; we're looking for someone with presence, who plays aggressively but who finds joy in the pocket. There is a moderate amount of jamming in our music, and we're heavily influenced by jazz, but this is a dance band. The groove is the master, not individual jamming skills.

Please email your tracks to gumbolefunque at . Thanks!

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Colorado may seem an unlikely place for Sazerac and voodoo rhythms, but the devil-may-care attitude of historic New Orleans is alive and well in the Rockies. Thanks to Gumbo le Funque, a five-piece jazz-funk/soul outfit from Denver, the boogalee spirit of the Big Easy has been resurrected at a higher altitude. Intoxicating melodies, plenty of groove and possessed by the tradition of the second line, their latest album #PowerLoveFreedom is what Jamsphere Magazine calls “a masterful blend of funk and contemporary jazz.” And Coloradans have no problem dancing at the fais-dodos.

“I started the group because I love New Orleans music, from traditional jazz to funk,” explains frontman/saxophonist Jason Justice. “New Orleans is the genesis of all the pop music we listen to today.”

Formed in 2011, Gumbo le Funque is comprised of Justice and bassist Chris Harris and vocalist Andrea Mérida. From the start they were inspired by jazz-funk artists like Maceo Parker, Galactic, and Dr. John, and NOLA’s tradition of the second line, where crowds of everyday people dance and strut behind the main section of a marching parade. Gumbo le Funque has been nominated for “Best of Funk” in the Westword Music Showcase Poll for two years in a row.

For videos, .mp3s and gig dates, visit ://gumbolefunque.

Screen name:

gumbolefunque

Member since:

May 31 2012

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years together:

8

Gigs played:

Over 100

Available to gig:

2-3 nights a week

Age:

57 years

Influences

Maceo Parker, Galactic, Lettuce, Soulive, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Trombone Shorty

MUSIC