1972
Cymande:
1970s Funk Fusion Band
This is about Cymande, the band formed in London in the early 70s. Nine, self-taught Caribbean musicians using funk, reggae, soul, and calypso to create a distinctive blend. Their self-titled album in 1972 is a notable funk album.
Not feeling like reading? That's alright! 😎 Here is “Dove.” 🔊
During my deep dive into the 70s funk scene, one band kept popping up, for especially two reasons: due to their eclectic sound in the 70s and their comeback in recent years with a documentary dedicated to their story.
Cymande – a standout group. 💎
The story begins in early 70s London. A group of talented musicians - nine self-taught, Caribbean born, London based musician/singers, Cymande creates music that resists simple classification.
Jazz Influences and Cymande Style
Steve Scipio (bass and vocals) and Patrick Patterson (guitar and vocals) are founding members of Cymande. They are both from jazz backgrounds, and their early focus is on playing jazz - especially influenced by the work of Miles Davis from the late 1960s. Again, perhaps reflective of the time, Dave Brubeck is another influence for their experimentation with time signatures. Mixed with Patterson’s love of Hendrix, the duo (then in a quartet called Metre) make joyful noise on the Brit jazz circuit.
In 71, Scipio and Patterson form Cymande and they fuse funk grooves with Afrobeat, jazz, soul, reggae, and calypso rhythms, creating the distinctive "Cymande sound." 🕊️
John Schroeder Discovers Cymande in Soho
Still in 71 and they are at Soho, rehearsing and improvising & enters John Schroeder into the picture – an experienced producer in the British music industry.
My meeting with CYMANDE was purely chance caused by confusion of dates, for on the afternoon of 18th October 1971 in the basement of a club in Soho, London, I was due to see another group. The band were rehearsing, or rather what they termed as rehearsing was a troup of friends specially brought for the occasion and which seemed to increase as the afternoon went on shouting, chanting and jumping about like there was no tomorrow and this I later discovered was how it was everywhere the band played. I found myself caught up in an atmosphere of electric excitement and my brain pummelled with music and rhythms which had an incessant infectiousness.
Acclaimed for his production and arranging skills, Schroeder sees the potential in Cymande's distinct sound and works to make them more widely known. He signs them to Janus Records and Cymande first releases their single 'The Message' and following it, their self-titled debut album in 1972.
Making History: From 'The Message' to the Apollo Theatre
'The Message' backed by 'Zion 1' becomes so successful in the US that they tour with Al Green (soul and R&B superstar at the time) that very same year (They would go on to tour with Mandrill, Patti LaBelle, KC and The Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang and likes, and become the first British band to perform at the Apollo Theatre and also the Soul Train).
The 1972-released Cymande album is a significant debut album. The album features strong percussion, soulful vocals, and tight grooves that highlight the band's skillful blending of influences.
🕊️ 'Dove' is the one song perfectly representing the group's ability to captivate the audience. 'The Message,' demonstrates rhythmic combination but also injects a dose of irresistible funk. 'Getting It Back' has a classic 70s funk vibe that is alive and vibrant.
'Dove': My Favorite 10-Minute Peace of Mind
This album is an adventurous and joyful listen, exciting, even danceable but still emotional –with all the rhythmic energy in its soul. I adore majority of the album – still, 'Dove' is my all-time favorite. It has this cooling, peaceful effect on you, starts slowly and picks up steam and keeps the beat going for 10+ minutes straight, without ever boring you.
Gülben - 03/2024
🎥 Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande
