Soulive

Biography

Soulive is a renowned jazz/funk trio formed in Woodstock, New York, in 1999 by brothers Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans (Hammond B3 organ), along with guitarist Eric Krasno. Prior to Soulive, the Evans brothers played in Moon Boot Lover, while Krasno was involved with Lettuce, another influential funk band. Their initial jam session led to the recording of their debut album, 'Get Down!', quickly followed by 'Turn It Out,' which featured notable guest musicians and sold 65,000 copies, establishing their reputation in the jazz/funk scene.[1][2][3]

Soulive's career developed rapidly as they signed with Blue Note Records in 2000, releasing albums such as 'Doin' Something' and 'Next,' which included collaborations with artists like Dave Matthews, Black Thought, and Talib Kweli. The band became known for its energetic live performances, improvisational style, and ability to blend genres including jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop. Their groove-driven approach, rooted in the soul jazz traditions of the 1960s and 1970s, appealed to a wide audience and led to tours across the United States, Europe, and Japan, as well as appearances at major festivals and opening slots for acts like The Rolling Stones and Dave Matthews Band.[1][2][3]

Over the years, Soulive continued to evolve, signing with Concord Records and later recording for the revived Stax label. Their discography features collaborations with a diverse array of artists, and the trio has maintained a reputation for pushing the boundaries of jazz fusion while staying true to their groove-based roots. Soulive's legacy lies in their innovative blending of genres, their influence on the modern jam band and jazz scenes, and their commitment to live performance as the heart of their artistic expression.[1][2][3][5]

Fun Facts

• Soulive opened for The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, and The Roots early in their career.[1][2]
• Their independently released album 'Turn It Out' sold 65,000 copies, a significant achievement for a jazz/funk band.[1][2]
• Soulive has toured extensively in Japan and Europe, playing sold-out shows and appearing on Japan's largest TV network, NHK.[3]
• Saxophonist Sam Kininger, who became an official member, started playing saxophone at age ten and performed with the New York Symphony Orchestra by age sixteen.[3]

Members

• Alan Evans - membranophone (from 1999)
• Neal Evans - clavinet, Hammond organ, keyboard bass (from 1999)
• Eric Krasno - guitar
• Toussaint the Liberator - lead vocals

Original Members

• Alan Evans - membranophone
• Neal Evans - clavinet, Hammond organ, keyboard bass

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Soul jazz artists of the 1960s and 1970s - Stylistic inspiration for their groove-based sound (General influence from classic soul jazz recordings) [Formative years and ongoing]

Key Collaborators

• Eric Krasno - Guitarist and founding member (All Soulive albums and live performances) [1999–present]
• Alan Evans - Drummer and founding member (All Soulive albums and live performances) [1999–present]
• Neal Evans - Organist and founding member (All Soulive albums and live performances) [1999–present]
• Sam Kininger - Saxophonist, session musician and later official member (Soulive recordings and tours) [2001–mid-2000s]
• John Scofield - Guest guitarist on 'Turn It Out' (Turn It Out (album)) [1999]
• Fred Wesley - Horn arranger, trombonist from James Brown's band (Doin' Something (album)) [2001]
• Dave Matthews - Guest vocalist (Next (album)) [2002]
• Talib Kweli - Guest rapper (Next (album)) [2002]
• Black Thought - Guest rapper (Next (album)) [2002]
• Chaka Khan - Guest vocalist (Break Out (album)) [2005]
• Ivan Neville - Guest vocalist (Break Out (album)) [2005]
• Robert Randolph - Guest guitarist (Break Out (album)) [2005]

Artists Influenced

• Lettuce - Eric Krasno's other band, shares stylistic and personnel overlap (Lettuce albums and performances) [2000s–present]
• Modern jam bands and jazz fusion artists - Soulive's groove-based fusion has inspired contemporary acts in the jazz/funk/jam band scenes (General influence, not tied to specific works) [2000s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Romantic (feat. Soulive) (Even Closer)
2. Sidekick
3. Joyful Girl
4. Waves
5. Millers Last Stand
6. One In Seven (Doin' Something)
7. Eleanor Rigby (Rubber Soulive)
8. Doin' Something (Doin' Something)
9. Kings March
10. Drive My Car (Rubber Soulive)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #acid-jazz, #jazz, #jazz-funk