Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings August 17, 2008

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Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Menahan Street Band
Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens

Sometimes called a female James Brown, the Brooklyn based “Queen of Funk,” Sharon Jones, has been performing since the 1970’s. Starting out singing in churches and talent shows, Ms. Jones has spent her life perfecting her trademark combination of soul and funk. Her band, the Dap-Kings, who recently toured with Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, is chock full of masterful musicians. City Parks Foundation was an early supporter of the multi grammy nominated Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings who headlined in 2006, at Historic Harlem’s Jackie Robinson Park, through the organization’s free CityParks Concerts series. Her latest album with the Dap-Kings, 100 Days, 100 Nights, released last October, is a powerful retro throwback to the 60’s.

Funk and soul continue to pour out of Brooklyn with the birth of the Menahan Street Band. The Menahan Street Band shares members with Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, the Budos Band, and El Michels Affair (themselves veterans of Central Park SummerStage). They produce an irresistible brand of music that has been described as classic, yet raw groove.

Whether from the church pews of Alabama or Brooklyn, or on her cutting-edge funk singles, Naomi Shelton is renowned for her cathartic brand of soul. And while wrenching your heart, she also gets your feet dancing. Her funk classic, “Forty-First Street Breakdown,” is one of the most sampled snippets for DJ’s looking for real soul.

Official Website: http://www.summerstage.org/index1.aspx?BD=20543