Randall RobertsIf you're a music fan in LA, no doubt you know Breakestra, whose work in that gray area between breakbeat, old school funk, Latin grooves, jazz and soul comines to create something both fresh and timeless. Tonight the legendary LA live breakbeat band Breakestra celebrates the release of its new album, Dusk Till Dawn. Four years in the making, the album comes out today.
The band traces it roots back to the post-92 riots, and the spirit of constructive creativity that erupted out of it. Writes the band on its website of that time: “Musicians from all over the city became tighter and many experimental jam sessions occurred fusing genres like funk, hip-hop, rock and acoustic soul resulting in truly innovative, multicultural music. Musical friendships between cats like Miles, Mixmaster Wolf, Cut Chemist, Peaunut Butter Wolf, Carlos Guaico and many others became the seeds for landmark clubs and two indie record labels that still flourish to this day. Original members of the Breakestra have gone on to either play or write songs for/with the Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, The Rebirth, Dakah, the list goes on.”
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Perhaps you've heard Breakestra on Thievery Corporation's great mix CD The Outernational Sound.
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Or know them because you're a skater and dig Tony Hawk.
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Curious about the ever-inspired Miles Tackett and his thoughts on music? Check out this interview:
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Breakestra's influence on the LA hip hop scene is illustrated below at the legendary Root Down club, which Tackett started with the late, lamented DJ Dusk.
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