The Boogie Hustlers

Boogie Hustlers, The: 122 Ellsworth

If you like vintage 70's funk and soul, mixed with some serious Hammond B3 licks and biting guitar work, then the latest from The Boogie Hustlers, 122 Ellsworth, will certainly scratch that itch you have been having for some tasty groove music. This eight piece ensemble, which features vocals, guitars, drums, sax, trumpet, keyboards, and bass, brings to mind many influences from acts such as Van Morrison, Chicago, The Allman Brothers, Weather Report, George Benson, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Curtis Mayfield. With plenty of funk, jazz, soul, and rock in their suitcase, The Boogie Hustlers tear through eleven tracks of groove laden music that is sure to get your feet tappin' and your fingers snappin'.

There's a good mix of vocal and instrumental pieces here. Of the instrumental tunes, "Nakama" is a bitchin' Hammond driven number, which sees Skip Sanders delivering some tasty B3 runs (although in the band now is keyboard player Greg Barbone) alongside the soaring trumpet of Sean Bell and the squonking sax of Darnell Anderson. The title track is a funky, jazzy treat, with more than a hint of Weather Report, thanks in part to the popping bass work of Jason Sari. Of course there's the fiery fusion romp "White Knight", a real barnburner with scorching sax solos, screaming wah-wah guitar leads, and tight drum work from Dave Jamison. Shades of early Chicago can be heard on the wild "Vince Lost It", complete with raging Hammond, plenty of horns, and a seriously rampaging wah-wah guitar solo from Sean Rig, who sounds so much like the late Terry Kath it's scary.

On the vocal side, you get some memorable melodies on songs like "Hope is Alive", "Let it Ride", and "Satisfaction of You", all which feature the smooth voice of James Wylie, who really has a perfect voice for this band, as he interjects a great blend of R&B, soul, and funk. "Hit it Runnin' " is a great blend of rock, soul, funk, and jam band styles, with some nifty guitar licks, bright horns, and a powerful vocal from Wylie.

You'll be clapping your hands and movin' to the groove in no time with this fun album from these Pittsburgh musicians. Produced by Poogie Bell, 122 Ellsworth is an all around great sounding disk that has plenty of smooth sounds as well as fiery instrumental interplay that is sure to please a wide variety of listeners.


Track Listing
1. 122 Ellsworth
2. Hope is Alive
3. Let it Ride
4. Nakama
5. Satisfaction of You
6. I Believe...This Ain't Livin'
7. White Knight
8. Watched You Fly
9. Vince Lost It
10. Hit it Runnin'
11. Train

Added: October 7th 2006
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 179
Language: english - www.seaoftranquility.com

The Boogie Hustlers:
122 Ellsworth

By: Mark Burnell
I’d never heard of these guys when I was sent this, their debut CD, for review, but within 20
seconds of putting it in my player I was boogieing around my living room to the dynamite
opening title track. Tight and funky with some kickass horns , a soupcon of wah wah and a
dash of slinky clavier , it oozes 70s cool. The rest of the album isn’t quite as good, but despite
a couple serious missteps, there’s still much here to enjoy.
The Boogie Hustlers seem to want to encapsulate every soulful subgenre from the funky 70s,
and in doing so they spread themselves just a tad thin; they may have been better off trying to
be less diverse. They certainly have talent to spare – the playing is excellent throughout – and
the production by Poogie Bell is very good indeed, especially as this seems to be an entirely
independent venture.

The best stuff here is the instrumentals – the title track, the jazzy White Knight and the
Funkadelic-tinged Vince Lost It are all home runs, giving these obviously talented musicians a
chance to show off their props. There’s an admirable group mindset in effect here – the
communal playing is exceptionally tight, and the soloing brief and to the point, allowing
everyone a chance to shine. When the Boogie Hustlers are in this mindset, they remind me of
a slightly less Latin Vinyl or maybe a US version of Brit funksters New Mastersounds. And if
you’re unfamiliar with either, just trust me that this is high praise indeed.

The Hustlers are slightly less sure footed when vocals are added to the mix, but for the most
part is still works. Both featured vocalists (Sean Rieger and James Wylie) have good voices,
and while the lyrics won’t have bedroom poets across the country balling their fists in jealously,
they are thankfully free of the awful clichés which seem to be the hallmark of modern ‘soul’.
There’s certainly a refreshing passion in the vocal performances, and when those voices are
welded to energetic workouts from the musicians, the songs work well ; Hope Is Alive is terrific,
and Hit It Running
is as fine a soul song as I’ve heard in a long time. On the flip side Let It Ride gets too soft for
its own good (and unfortunately reminds me of the Stylistics, which is not a good thing), as
does I Believe…This Ain’t Living, which veers into laid back disco territory – despite its socially
conscious lyrics it sounds like it could have been played at late night hook up time at Studio 54
in 1976.

Closing track Train deserves special mention. The song itself is impassioned and funky, with
a really nice, slightly wistful lyric and it gives way (after a 15 second pause) to a ‘hidden’
instrumental track that compliments it perfectly, a sad and contemplative piece with some very
tender playing. It’s a terrific way to end the album, almost as good as its funky opener.

So there we have it – 12 tracks, 5 home runs, 5 hits and only two strikeouts (sorry, it’s
baseball playoffs – forgive the metaphor). That’s an pretty impressive debut, and I can’t wait to
see them live.

The album is available from www.boogiehustlers.com . The band have several upcoming dates
in the NorthEast. - www.jammedonline.com

What happens when you take the music influences of the Curtis Mayfield, Wilson Pickett, The Meters, George Benson, Allman Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, D’Angelo, Van Morrison, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Erykah Badu and James Brown and stir them up real good. You would end up with a group sounding mature and familiar yet fresh, evocative, hip, and engaging. A band with their own groove-based brand of neo-soul having elements of jazz style and voice. That group is called The Boogie Hustlers and they have a new release out titled, 122 Ellsworth.
Formed in early 2004, The Boogie Hustlers are a collaborative of eight musicians, which includes a vocalist, vocalist/guitarist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, electric piano/keyboarder, and the ace horn section of a trumpeter and sax player. The album’s unique title was chosen because it is the location where the band practices, which literally is the detached garage of one of the band member’s residents. Extreme care was taken to present and authentic sound, utilizing very little in the way of samples and programming. A friend of mine said if she were to write cd reviews her reviews would be short; she would say “fun� or “not fun� album. This cd is filled with FUN, so mentally picture this sticker on the cd wrapper.
Sean “Rigs� Rieger, lead guitarist and vocalist wrote all the musical compositions and co-wrote the lyrics for the 122 Ellsworth project. Vince Wylie the other vocalist co-wrote eight of the tracks; Darnell Anderson (sax), and Dave Jamison (drums) also got involved in co-writing with Rieger and Wylie.

The first cut and title song, “122 Ellsworth,� opens the project with a very funky foot tapping and jazzy head swaying song. The street beat rhythm reminded me a little of the Sanford & Son theme song. This is a great song to introduce listeners to what will become a FUN musical experience. There are plenty of contemporary sound elements in the arrangement to keep our interest.

We are introduced to the wonderful vocals of Rieger and Wylie on “Hope is Alive.� Their vocals are very smooth and soulful. We quickly realize this project is not going to become a purely "retro" soul album.

This is followed by “Let it Ride,� which is one my favorite songs of the project. We see an effective use of the Hammond B3 organ and finger snapping to draw the listener into the song. The lyrics evoke a strong emotional connection and the musical composition presents a full phat sound. “Satisfaction of You,� demonstrates the excellent harmonization of these two young singers along with the support of the other band members. The instrumental solos really stretch this song out nicely.
“I Believe…This Ain’t Livin’� starts out bluesy then morphs into a very soulful R&B heavy rhythm beat which may move people to dance. The lyrics reflect a social consciousness of what is occurring in society currently. One hears about wartime, racism and other social interactions and relationships. Rieger stated, “The Michael Franti & Spearhead’s “Stay Human� album was a life changing album in my musical direction the first time I played it.� One senses the influence Franti’s project had on Rieger because it appears to show up on this song.

“Nakama� and “White Knight,� are funky jazz instrumental songs where all the musicians get to step out with some great solos. If you love the sound of a Hammond B3, then these songs will continue to deliver and make you happy. The other main musicians on this cd are Sean Bell (trumpet), Chad Smith (guitar), Ryan Meals (rhythm guitar), Jason Sari (bass) and Skip Sanders (keys)

Okay, for you rocker/rock fusion lovers get ready to turn the volume way up on “Vince Lost It.� This instrumental track lets the guitar player perform some awesome solos. And to add a little more FUN, the keyboard player gives a tremendous performance playing the Hammond B3.

“Hit it Runnin’� is another funk vocal track. The lyrics are pleasant and I like the way the horns take up a prominent position on the song. They slow things down a little with a blues gospel style song, “Train,� and it makes for a nice slow song. As a bonus we get a hidden track at the back end of this track.

The cd was produced by Poogie Bell (drummer for the Marcus Miller band). Poogie also worked on the arrangements, helped refine their sound, and added percussion and keyboards. One important thing that Poogie told the Boogie Hustlers during the recording sessions was to play like they did at live performances…to be themselves and put feeling into the music. That is the essence of what we hear on this project.
112 Ellsworth is the group’s freshman release and has a smooth jazzy funky alluring soul kind of sound. The Boogie Hustlers are hard working musicians and the end result is a successful project. This cd successfully marries neo-soul and jazz funk, the perfect elements for earning listeners from var - www.contemporaryjazz.com by Lou Bruno

CD reviews: Boogie Hustlers' show vibrant 'Colors'
Sunday, November 18, 2007

'True Colors'
Boogie Hustlers
Three stars

"True Colors" is the work of a band ascendant; musicians schooled in funk, hip hop and R&B, but good enough to put their own mark on the music. The Pittsburgh-based outfit has an inherent playfulness that comes through in "adidas" and "Don't Stop Believin'," but they are best when they stretch out, allowing the music taking unexpected turns and twists.

"The Promise" kicks in with a horn chart worthy of Tower of Power, then settles into an intoxicating, dreamy flow that sounds like a funkified Steely Dan. A layer of synthesizers introduces "Freedom," then gives way to a Snoop Dogg/Dr. Dre sound. "Whenever Wherever Pt. 1" sounds like a cut from a John Legend session, and "Warm Breeze" despite a silly vocal intro, finds the Hustlers traipsing between Parliament/Funkadelic and Miles Davis.

The Boogie Hustlers perform Wednesday at the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville and Saturday at the Warehouse Cafe in Bethel Park.

--Regis Behe - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Since Vince
Pittsburgh's Boogie Hustlers were thrown into a roller-coaster loop when Vince Wylie left the band. Thanks to some musical intervention, they've fully recovered.

BY DAVE RICHARDS
dave.richards@timesnews.com [more details]



Pittsburgh's Boogie Hustlers had it all going a year ago -- an acclaimed new CD, prestige bookings at such locales as the All Good Festival and New York City's Blue Note, and a fast-growing reputation for their accomplished, sophisticated blend of R&B, soul, funk, and hip-hop.

Then they lost their lead singer and front man. Vince Wylie was unhappy with life on the road and left after four years. Band founder Sean Rigs was thrown for a loop until a fellow musician helped rally him.


"It was really a down time," said Rigs, who also sings and plays lead guitar. "We had been on the road a whole year and built a lot of momentum up and focused the group around Vince a lot. It was kind of a rocky situation where we were trying to find out what to do with the group and how to go about it."

Then trombonist Reggie Watkins stepped up. Long a force in Pittsburgh's jazz scene, he helped rescue Rigs and Boogie Hustlers,

"He's been a huge force for saving it, and taking it into a stronger direction," Rigs said. "He's a trombonist-vocalist, but he was actually Maynard Ferguson's musical director. He worked with Maynard a good number of years.

"He's somebody who came in the past year and arranged and wrote a lot for the horns for our new record, 'True Colors.' He's been a wonderful musician and a great person to be around. He inspired me during that time."

Boogie Hustlers took another big step, as well, adding Margot B. on vocals.


"I didn't want to replace Vince per se. I wanted a different kind of spark, a whole different creative vibe," Rigs said. "And she's a beautiful girl and a great singer, so it added a whole different flavor to the group and pushed us forward."

The result: Boogie Hustlers are rolling along just fine in 2008.

"We haven't lost a step," Rigs said. "We've grown bigger, and our audiences have grown bigger. We missed a lot with losing Wylie, but we did move forward."

Rigs said the level of musicianship and sheer number of musicians in Boogie Hustlers make them stand out. In Pittsburgh, they may feature as many as 12 players for a gig.

Look for eight or nine at Docksider on Saturday, including Watkins, keyboard player Howie Alexander, and saxophonist Rick Matt, who's played with Billy Price and the Temptations.


Bassist Anthony Pecora, in-the-pocket drummer Dave Jamison, rhythm guitarist Dave Meals, and premier alto saxophonist Tony Campbell help fulfill Rigs' vision of the complete R&B band.

"We never intended to be pinned as a funk band," he said. "There are a lot of different elements in our group. I say we're soul music because it comes from the heart. I don't mean it as a genre or to pigeonhole ourselves. Rock, soul, hip-hop, R&B, jazz -- it's all in there."

What ties it all together are Riggs' positive lyrics on such songs as "Let It Ride" and "Why."

"It's a very uplifting, spiritual show," he said. "We have a lot of great musicians and a lot of great soloists and vocalists. It's just good-feeling music."

The skinny
Boogie Hustlers will perform Saturday at 10 p.m. at Docksider, 1015 State St. Admission is $5. For more on Boogie Hustlers, visit www.myspace.com / theboogiehustlers.
- Erie Times-News

http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/images/uploads/boogiehustlerstrue.jpg

The Boogie Hustlers
True Colors
n/a; 2007

To be funky, to be soulful, to be jazzy: The Boogie Hustlers want to be all of these things and more, and have proven themselves many times on the live circuit in the last few years. Anytime there is a discussion about "genuine bands" playing "real" music, The Boogie Hustlers are often mentioned, but do they quality? Are they exceptional, and for the most part, do they know how to burn a groove? It depends on what you feel the exception is, but as they show on True Colors, they definitely come shining through.

The musicians in The Boogie Hustlers are not only tight as a band, but have performed with the likes of Erykah Badu, The Temptations, David “Fuse� Fiuczynski, Roy Ayers, Chaka Khan, and many others. What you hear on this album are musicians who can read each other, know how to fill the gaps when needed and know when to entice with space within the music. Fluidity is key. Those who enjoy Anthony Hamilton’s style of southern soul will enjoy “Don’t Stop Believin’�, although for something along the lines of mid-70’s Ramsey Lewis or Stanley Clarke, there are tracks like “Why?� and “Confusion� that keeps the love light shining at all hours of the day. Within the soothing funk they will have someone drop a rhyme or two, going into that type of acid jazz that made bands like Groove Collective mandatory listening, but it’s not just funk for funk’s sake. These are well constructed songs that are not only perfect for late night grooving, but also for radio airplay. Oh yeah I forgot, radio isn’t cool anymore, but if there was a way to make it cool again, The Boogie Hustlers would be the ones to put into rotation on a regular basis. Not sure if modern radio is ready for actual musicianship, but there’s always hope.

One could easily compare them with artists such as Bullfrog, Brad, Maktub, Dwele, and Honeycut, and that’s fine. But what The Boogie Hustlers have to offer is their own stew, their own recipe with their own spices and special ingredients. All of these artists share a love for creating great music and catering to the inner muse that makes them tingle in order for each other to musically mingue. They are called The Boogie Hustlers for a reason: to provide sounds that may push people to boogie (in the truest sense), and to make the kind of good music that can be as addicting as a good buzz. There are a few songs where I wished they would have gone to the point of no return, but I have a funny feeling they have secret seasonings reserved for the live experience. Bring a bowl, hot sauce, and perhaps a scoop of rice, the Boogie is steaming hot and ready for aural consumption.

- John Book
- www.okayplayer.com 3/14/08

#48. # The Boogie Hustlers 122 Ellsworth
The eight-member collective, The Boogie Hustlers, have been creating a buzz on Pittsburgh’s live music scene since 2004. The CD title implies the local connection, marking the Shadyside location where the band hones their sound. 122 Ellsworth features a melting pot of influences ranging from the Meters and Marvin Gaye to Spearhead. What makes this debut so special is the authentic neo-soul, blues, and funk grooves along with the harmonizing vocals of Sean Riegler and Vince Wylie. Poogie Bell’s production adds the finishing touches to one of this year’s finest local releases. (KS) - www.wyep.org/WYEP-FM

By Chris Mitchell
The Herald-Dispatch
March 10th, 2007

The Boogie Hustlers motto is simply "peace, love, boogie," but their laidback funky soul grooves are complex enough to make Snoop Dogg's tongue wag.

The eight-piece band from Pittsburgh combines elements of funk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop into one meandering groovefest that will leave you bobbing your head, waving your hands in the air, and soaking up the band's positive energy.

They perform at Huntington's V-Club, located at the corner of 6th Avenue and 8th Street, tonight.

"The music we make is definitely trying to uplift your spirits," said co-lead vocalist and guitarist Sean Rig. "With all of the bad things going on in the world today, there couldn't be a better time to make more positive music."

The Steel City octet burns slowly through cuts such as "Give Me a Chance," a slab of soulful funk that would sound right at home on a Frankie Beverly record, and "The Promise," a mid-tempo cut that surely must be inspired by the Bay Area jazz, soul, and funk band Tower of Power.

Rig stresses that the band - including Vince Wylie (co-lead vocals and percussion), Ryan Meals (rhythm guitar), Shaun Bell (trumpet), Darnell Anderson (tenor sax), Greg Barbone (keys), Dave Jamison (percussion), and Jeremy McDonald (bass) - aren't influenced by one particular style or era.

"We're influenced by good musicians," he said. "They might be jazz musicians, hip-hop artists, or rock artists from any time period, really, as we want to draw from as much music as possible. That's why, either live or on record, we try to entertain the casual music listeners, but we try to entertain the musician crowd as well."

Adding to the strong musicianship within the band, the Boogie Hustlers employ tow vocalists to deliver their message. Rig believes that co-vocalist and lyricist Wylie gives the band a fresh one-two punch that is lacking in today's music scene.

"We want to give people a variety of sounds," he said. "I've always felt that music listeners can wear out on one vocalist or sound. they can become bored with it. [Having] Two vocalists in our band gives people a chance to hear two different points of view in addition to the sounds we have going on musically." - www.herald-dispatch.com

Funk-soul: Turning over new leaf

Call 2007 a year of transition for the Boogie Hustlers.

They changed vocalists, adding the versatile Margot B. to the lineup. They released a second album, "True Colors," that is one of the better funk/soul albums by a local band in recent years. And they've become a steady presence at local clubs and events.

The Boogie Hustlers close out the year with a 8:30 p.m. show Saturdayat Club Cafe, South Side. Also on the bill are CK9 and the Old E Allstars, and Jasper Lewis.

--Regis Behe - The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Review of True Colors

printing in upcoming JULY issue. - Pittsburgh Magazine