The New Mastersounds

The New Mastersounds
Name	The New Mastersounds
Origin	Leeds, England
Genres	Funk, soul, jazz-funk, instrumental
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Funk Weapons, Cumbancha, Freestyle, Jalapeno, Tramp
Associated acts	The Poets of Rhythm, Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley (singer), Leftfield, The Haggis Horns

The New Mastersounds are a British instrumental funk quartet formed in Leeds in 1999. The group developed a reputation on the European jazz festival and club circuits for blending 1970s funk grooves with contemporary electronic music sensibilities, releasing numerous studio and live recordings while collaborating with prominent figures across soul, hip hop, and acid jazz scenes. Their career spans international tours, festival appearances, and work with established artists and ensembles from London to New York City.

History

Formed at the turn of the millennium in Leeds, the band emerged amid a resurgence of interest in jazz-funk and retro-soul in the UK, sharing stages with collectives such as The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and clubs like Fabric (club). Early releases on the Funk Weapons and Freestyle Records labels established links to the NuJazz and broken beat movements; contemporaries and influencers included Jamiroquai, Incognito (band), Brand New Heavies, and Basement Jaxx. Touring expanded their presence to Glastonbury Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and SXSW, leading to collaborations with US acts and appearances on BBC Radio 1 and KEXP (FM). Lineup adjustments and label changes occurred over successive albums, mirroring trends in indie and alternative music distribution across the 2000s and 2010s.

Musical style and influences

Their sound fuses elements of 1970s soul and funk with modern jazz phrasing and tight instrumental arrangements reminiscent of bands like The Meters, The J.B.'s, and Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Influences cited in interviews and liner notes include Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, Donald Byrd, and Grant Green. Production and remix culture links bring connections to DJ Shadow, Quantic, Nightmares on Wax, and Mr Scruff while their rhythm section recalls the grooves of Sly and the Family Stone, Tower of Power, and Average White Band. The ensemble also draws on contemporary sources such as Broken Beat producers, electro-funk revivalists, and the sampling traditions of hip hop artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Pete Rock.

Band members

Core personnel over the years include a four-piece lineup featuring a guitarist, a keyboardist/organist, a bassist, and a drummer, each with individual ties to regional scenes such as Leeds and Manchester. Members have collaborated with artists and groups such as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley (singer), The Poets of Rhythm, The Haggis Horns, The New York Brass Band, and session work for labels like Daptone Records, Jalapeno Records, and Tramp Records. Touring and studio credits list appearances alongside musicians from Detroit and Chicago soul revivals as well as UK outfits from Bristol and London.

Discography

The band’s catalogue spans studio albums, live records, EPs, and compilations released on independent labels linked to funk and soul revivals. Key releases have been distributed by labels including Funk Weapons, Cumbancha, Freestyle Records, Jalapeno Records, and Tramp Records. Their albums have been reviewed in outlets such as Mojo (magazine), Uncut (magazine), The Guardian, and AllMusic, and have charted on independent and specialist jazz and soul lists. The discography shows progression from raw, groove-focused sessions to more polished studio productions featuring guest vocalists and horn sections connected to ensembles like The Haggis Horns and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

Live performances and tours

Touring history includes headline sets at Glastonbury Festival, festival bills at Montreux Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival, and appearances at US showcase festivals such as South by Southwest and Newport Jazz Festival satellite events. The band has supported and shared bills with artists including Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley (singer), The Poets of Rhythm, Incognito (band), Brand New Heavies, and international funk revivals from Japan and Brazil. Live recordings and radio sessions for stations like BBC Radio 6 Music, KEXP (FM), and NPR highlight their improvisational approach and audience-driven dynamics at clubs including Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and Leeds O2 Academy.

Side projects and collaborations

Members have pursued side projects and production work with figures across soul and hip hop, contributing to releases on Daptone Records, remixes for Quantic, and guest spots with artists such as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley (singer), The Haggis Horns, Quantic (musician), Dj Jazzy Jeff, and Nightmares on Wax. Collaborations extend to composers and producers linked to NYC and LA scenes, session work for film and television music supervisors, and joint releases with labels like Jalapeno Records and Freestyle Records.

Reception and legacy

Critics in publications including The Guardian, Mojo (magazine), Uncut (magazine), Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork have noted the band’s role in the international revival of jazz-funk and instrumental funk performance. Their influence is visible in newer acts within the neo-soul and retro-soul movements, and in DJ sets at Boiler Room-adjacent events and vinyl-focused record stores in cities such as London, New York City, Tokyo, and Berlin. The ensemble’s catalog and touring footprint contribute to the sustained visibility of UK instrumental funk on festival stages and independent labels across Europe and North America.

Category:English funk musical groups Category:Instrumental musical groups