Asheville’s weekly Funk Jam (held each Tuesday night) has been going strong since for four years and, in a testament to its popularity, the gathering just moved from the 180-person capacity One Stop Deli & Bar to Asheville Music Hall, upstairs, with twice the capacity.
According to a press release, “Since 2008, Funk Jam has been programmed and orchestrated by an evolved house band with trombonist Derrick Johnson at the helm.” The jam started at the Emerald Lounge and relocated to One Stop just about a year ago. The current house band lineup includes Johnson (of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Asheville Horns), Josh Blake (of GFE and Josh Blake’s Jukebox) on guitar, Jeff Knorr (of Secret B-Sides and Chalwa) on keys, Lee Allen (of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Eymarel) on drums, and Ben Bjorlie (of the David Zoll Trio and Asheville Horns) on bass.
During its tenure, Funk Jam has attracted not only a wide array of local talent, but also nationally touring musicians like Gift of Gab, Zach Deputy and Marcel Anton. The press release also lists “Orgone, Monophonics, Hank & Cupcakes, members of Parliament-Funkadelic, Galactic, Budos Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, The Broadcast and many more” among those who have dropped by.
The jam begins each Tuesday with a DJ set by Adam Strange at 10 p.m., followed by a three-hour music session. It’s live streamed at IamAvl.com. Photo from the Tuesday Night Funk Jam Facebook page.
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