Ben Luco And The Funky Divine

In The Pocket

Straight Vertical Music

          Popular Sacramento, CA, sax man Ben Luco and his group, The Funky Divine, are "funk-aholics." They like their music to have a "down-and-dirty funky groove" to it. The demand for their unique brand of funk in and around the Golden State's capital city has led the group to record it's second CD in three years, In The Pocket. The newly-released album's title is a musician's argot when the music and its players come together as one. Like the title to one of the songs on this album, this project contains some Serious Get Down-music!

In The Pocket invites listeners to a celebration of "move" music. One can't help but move while listening to this CD! The opener, Here We Go Check It Out starts off with fiesta-like aura and infectious Latin-tinged shadings. From then on, Luco and crew play host to almost 50 minutes of in-your-face jazz/funk.

All material for this project was written by the 29-year-old Luco who also wears hats as a fitness trainer/consultant, competitive all-natural body builder, and thespian.

Members of the Funky Divine are guitarists Brett Conner and Henry Robinett (who appears on tracks Here We Go Check It Out, Cool Funk and Almost In Love); drummers Chip Conrad and Rick Lotter (who appears on Almost In Love); funky bassist Reggie Balino; and Mario Sebastion and Guy Kowarsh, conga and percussion.

Luco's powerful sax style fronts a bold presence throughout the album, most notably on a pair of made-for-sax works: Hot Sax and Sax Licks.

Brett Conner makes some tasteful and striking guitar statements throughout the record, while getting hip bass support from Reggie Balino.

The album's closer, Almost In Love, provides a pleasant respite from the crash and thunder of the previous dozen tunes. Luco's tenor sax flows effortlessly as he introduces the tune's hauntingly pretty melody, while the rhythm section tastefully supports his flight.

After listening to this super turbo-charged CD, I strongly recommend - and again, borrowing the title of one of the songs on this album, to - Go Check It Out!

Track selections:  Here We Go Check It Out, Cool Funk, Straight Cool Player, Funk Lines, Funky House, Hot Sax, Sax Licks, Serious Get Down, Midnight Magic, Check It!!, Groove Land, Project Train, Almost In Love.

Recorded at Studio G, Granite Bay, CA, September 2005 - September 2006.

- Stephen Fratallone/Jazz Connection Magazine

Rating:  ****

To order In The Pocket by Ben Luco and the Funky Divine, log on to Ben Luco's official website at: www.benluco.com 

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