Breakestra has long been a staple of the LA Funk/Hip-Hop scenes. Starting at a mellow hang out at the Underground Cafe, sitting on a couch with a turntable on a coffee table, Miles Tackett, MC Hymnal, Carlos Nino and DJ Organic (Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme documentary director) playing laid back tunes for friends. Eventually Miles had the idea to have a live jam upstairs in the loft space at the cafe, and bring in musicians to play live breaks, Soul-Jazz and Fusion.
Wanting to get back to the source, DJs like Marvski, Cut Chemist and Mixmaster Wolf were invited, there were also live breaks by the musicians with MC’s like Thes One freestyling, as well as a 5×5 square for Bboys/Bgirls. There was also live art by the indelible MEAR ONE. In less than a month, The Breaks party was born. Filling a void Los Angeles had as far as lack of Funk/Soul based Hip-Hop nights. People started coming out in force while they brought Hip-Hop back to its original essence.
After about 1 ½ months, The Breaks had outgrown its spot at the Underground Cafe, and moved into a larger spot in Los Feliz called Pedro’s. Here the Breakestra started, playing at first all instrumental covers of popular Hip-Hop samples and Funk/Soul tunes. They also put on performances by other LA Hip-Hop legends like Freestyle Fellowship (1st official reunion show), Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples and even NYC heavyweights Company Flow.
From becoming a resident DJ and hosting The Breaks, Mixmaster Wolf became a vocalist for the Breakestra. In 1998, they released their first 12” “Remember Who You Are – Cramp Your Style / Baby Don’t Cry”, a French release on Rapster Records. A year later their original tune “Getcho Soul Togetha Part One / Part Two” was released by legendary indie label Stones Throw.
After The Breaks had it’s run at Pedro’s, Miles and Carlos Loslito started the long-running LA institution The Root Down night. Breakestra was not the full-time house band here due to time constraints, but did perform there. During this time The Breakestra recorded their debut album Hit The Floor.
Multiple world tours and another full-length release later, Dusk Til Dawn (in memory of Root Down DJ and LA favorite DJ Dusk RIP), Breakestra releases their new 7”, “Boogie Blessed / Miss Funky Sole Shake ft. Afrodyete On The Mic”.
Limited to a press of 1000, this is the 5th 7” release on the Root Down label imprint. “Backyard Boogie” is a brand new tune, featuring new Breakestra member Chuck Boogie on the organ, while Miles plays all of the other instruments.
The B-side of the record itself is a nod to the original technique of remixing by Funk labels in the ‘60s-’70s, labels would take a backing track that was released by one vocalist that failed to make a hit, and have another vocalist sing on it. Sometimes they would release an instrumental and then add vocals, on different labels, so multiple versions of same track existed. This is tied into this 7” release, as the original version was sung by Mixmaster Wolf, while this version features Afrodyete.
With Miles and Breakestra’s trademark groove-driven Southern/Memphis Funk sound, as well as plenty of drum breaks, this new release is a burner.
You can catch Breakestra at a free performance this Saturday, July 28th, with a free show at Grand Performances. As always, you can catch Miles holding down his long-running weekly residency at Funky Sole every Saturday at the Echo in Echo Park, where they have limited copies of the 7” for sale at the door.
The 7″ release will be distributed through the Breakestra website (http://www.breakestra.com) when it’s store is completed, as well as through Fat Beats distribution. MP3s available through Itunes.
TO OUR READERS:
1 Free Copy of this Promo 7″ (Only 25 made!) goes out to the first person to tell us where Breakestra’s ”Getcho Soul Togetha” video was filmed?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca_-Y25LzVA&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL5D52BD7AB5E96497
(Your answer must be posted on our website blog wall to be accepted)
