Breakestra - Hit the Floor '2005

Tracks list

Released on Stones Throw in 2001 The Live Mix part 2 put the Los Angeles-based
live funk band Breakestra on the map. In 2005, their new album Hit the Floor
(Ubiquity Records), a new single featuring members of Jurassic 5 and People
Under The Stairs, and recent performances with GZA, Guru, Raekwon, Digable
Planets and De La Soul (at New York’s Summer Stage) will launch the band
further into the public eye. While their debut album and legendary live shows
predominantly paid homage to old school breaks n’ beats gone by, Hit the
Floor goes a step further as Breakestra create an album featuring all-original
compositions and songs. The funk flavor is as strong as ever and
Breakestra’s main man Miles Tackett explains the transformation from a
cover band into one flaunting their own material as the obvious next step,
“While hip hop dj/medley inspired covers are the foundation of Breakestra,
it is only natural we’d want to express our own soulful
proclamations,” he says. “Ive been releasing original funk cuts
before putting out The Live Mix Part 2. The first Breakestra single was an
original song called Getcho Soul Togetha, so this album is really just a part of
the natural flow,” he adds.

Four years is a long time to wait for a second album, but judging by the size
and enthusiasm of crowds at Breakestra shows or at their weekly hosted Rootdown
party in LA their fan base continues to grow. And the global funk scene, which
Breakestra are thoroughly entrenched in, now includes a distinguished list of
bands like The Bamboos in Australia, The Dapkings in NYC, the New Master Sounds,
Speedometer and Quantic Soul Orchestra in England and seems to be growing
stronger by the day. “I dont think this music is going to be here today
but gone tomorrow,” Tackett enthuses, “its the best it’s been
in years.”

Explaining the time lag between debut and sophomore albums Tackett says,
“I have a slight tendency to be a perfectionist, so creating all original
material was a little more difficult than I thought.” He adds
“It’s an intimidating thought for me that the music that inspired
Breakestra had set such a high musical bar.”

To help kick-start recording Tackett opened a heavily soundproofed Funky Tilt
recording studio last year. Setting it up from scratch with Tackett paying as
close attention to musical detail as he does any of his recordings meant the
public would have to wait a little longer to hear Hit the Floor, but eventually
this space allowed for late night writing and recording sessions. During this
time Tackett and co perfected a blend of rough n’ready sounds that is
matched by great songwriting. From the call-out party vibe of the break driven
intro’ track “Stand Up” to the catchy blues-tinged
“Hiding” and “Recognize”, to the ‘60’s vibe
of the title track, Hit the Floor is a varied and accomplished second outing
built on the foundation of a great debut and countless live dates.

A rotating cast of players make up the Breakestra line-up, but collaborating
with Tackett (who sings and plays bass, guitar, drums and keys) and right hand
man Mixmaster Wolf (singing and soulful shouting!) on this album are Pete McNeil
(drums), James “The Penguin” King (saxes and flute), Shawn Oshea
(drums), Pat Bailey (guitar), Chuck Prada (percussion), Marshall Thompson (keys
and organ), Dan Hastie (keys and organ), Devin Williams (trumpet), Todd Simon
(trumpet), and Mike Bolger (trumpet). Plus there are guest appearances from
Charli2na and Soup (of Jurassic 5) and Double K (of People Under The Stairs),
plus Mixmaster Wolfs percussion-playing father Munyongo Jackson on an old school
posse cut in the spirit of the live-band old school rap jams called
“Family Rap”.

In addition to making a new album and building a studio Tackett hosts the weekly
8 yr old Rootdown party in LA where Breakestra perform regularly to capacity
crowds along side hip hop luminaries such as Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Black
Eyed Peas, Freestyle Fellowship, Company Flow, Cut Chemist, Nu-Mark and DJ
Shadow.

Tackett grew up on a steady diet of music by father his Freddie Tackett of
Little Feat. These home-schooled sounds were mixed with a diet of Steely Dan and
music from New Orleans. “My Dad played with a New Orleans band in the 70s
and 80s and did a few Neville Brothers/Meters things which were my first
introduction to straight funky music. In fact I met Leo Nocentelli hanging out
at one of their local gigs when I was a young teenager though I had no idea who
he was until many years later.” Singing since he was only 8 years old
Tackett Jr. made his first appearance in a prog/classic rock band at the tender
age of 13. In addition to his current role as Breakestra leader Tackett has
numerous productions as This Kid Named Miles. He has produced T-Loves acclaimed
Return of the B-girl EP, and supplied tracks for Cut Chemist, Rakka of Dilated
Peoples, and contributed songs to Macy Grays debut LP. 

Tracklisting:
01. Breakestra - Stand Up! (4:56)
02. Breakestra - Gotta Let Me Know (3:28)
03. Breakestra - Hiding (4:31)
04. Breakestra - Burgundy Blues (feat James The Penguin King) (5:30)
05. Breakestra - You Dont Need A Dance (4:16)
06. Breakestra - The Gettin To It (2:43)
07. Breakestra - At The End Of The Day (3:34)
08. Breakestra - Recognize (5:02)
09. Breakestra - Keep On Playin (4:03)
10. Breakestra - See Sawng (5:57)
11. Breakestra - Family Rap (feat Chali 2na, Soup, Double K, Wolf, Munyungo
Jackson) (5:07)
12. Breakestra - How Do You Really Feel? (8:44)
13. Breakestra - Show & Prove (2:57)
14. Breakestra - Hit Tha Flo! (5:06)

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