That's A Vibe - Sabbatical Bob (Album Review)

If you’ve gone to enough shows, you’ve definitely felt the “vibe” - the crowd, setting, and artists all merging together to create something special in that present moment. It carries the music along with the memories, recapturing those nights dancing in clubs or grooving with a band alongside your friends and fellow fans. In Sabbatical Bob, these talented young players are stewards of cultivating a vibe through dynamic, wide ranging funk that highlights both the individuals and the group. Every inch of their live sound encourages audience members to lock in and “shake that vibe.” Their latest full-length album, That’s a Vibe, steeps listeners in deep pocket grooves, stellar arrangements from an 8-piece ensemble, and a standout presence that begs to be experienced live.

Setting the vibe immediately with an endearing self-titled track, the band simply repeats the mantra, “That’s a Vibe!” “Electrolyte Solution/Broken Thumb” turns up the heat with a hydrating burst of funk complete with James Brown stylings, energy that’s no doubt fueled by electrolytes to reinforce their fast breakbeat sections and winding horn arrangements, and a wild guitar solo from Ian Elyanbekov. “Lil Bunny Foo Foo” pairs gritty riffs a la Rage Against the Machine (especially with how the guitar and bass sound together) with playful dynamics and rhythmic interaction. In addition to holding down trumpet, this track showcases Benjamin Green’s vocal chops. “Really Right” blends an almost Hendrix-style phasing guitar riff against a half-time groove that’s as deep and wide as the grand canyon. The guitar gets plenty of room for a solo along with an affected trumpet and sax solo trade between Green and saxophonist Alain Sullivan. The percussion included by bandleader and drummer David Ward was a nice touch as well, adding to the feel and flavor of the tune.

“At Least One” slows things down but keeps the bass/guitar combo front-and-center. The backbeat shifts partway through the song and adds clav, giving the perfect “stankface” moment. “Paradise” oozes with swirling phasers, dark tones, ambient reverb and delay, before it brightens up (tempo, instrument tones, and more active playing) and builds to the peak with some stellar solos from Alain Sullivan and keyboardist Jordan Anderson. “Interlude 1” provides a wonderful palette cleanser with some wonderful lo-fi stride piano that adds to the feeling of scrolling through radio stations. “Drive” lays the vibe back and begs for a slow drive through the city. The groove develops throughout and even includes some trashy, New Orleans-esque swampy funk under some tasty vocals. After some additional radio sounds on “Interlude 2,” the Gogo party is in full swing with “Shake That Vibe,” a tune that instantly gets the party going. “Interlude 3” channel surfs through more radio stations before a reprise of a previous track under “Paradise II,” this time with some added synth solos. This feels like when a DJ brings back a groove from earlier in the set while cutting it with something new. To keep the vibe rolling as the album winds down, a mellow, spacey track called “Springtime” counterbalances all of the upbeat grooves with a warm, cozy, flavorful sonic soup that is a comfort to the soul.

From their polished, exciting live shows to their recordings radiating funk personality, Sabbatical Bob has shown their abilities as performers, collaborators, and producers all over That’s a Vibe. Musicianship is on full display to celebrate the individual players while the collective shines throughout the album. Funk is explored to its furthest reaches while adjacent sounds add tasty moments in each arrangement. The mix on this record sounds great as well, building on their last self-produced record and adding so much color to their already eclectic style. Sabbatical Bob easily proves why they are a rising in-demand collective of some of Michigan’s finest young talent while raising the bar for everyone wanting to claim “funk music” on their band’s bio page. Well done all around!

Album Credits:
Saxophones - Alain Sullivan
Trumpet/Vocals - Benjamin Green
Trombone - Zekkereya El-magharbel
Bass - Benjamin Wood
Guitar - Ian Eylanbekov
Keyboard - Jordan Anderson
Drums/Percussion - David Ward

Recorded & Mixed by Geoffrey Brown
Mastered by Kate Derringer

Support Sabbatical Bob!
Website: https://sabbaticalbob.wixsite.com/funk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SabbaticalBob
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabbaticalbob/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vFxdosJYUGMUbA3N7YmJ1?si=0r3L3TxjTFWSYkCxC0Hq0w
Bandcamp: https://sabbaticalbob.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXm0bvXVY7dX30kLtHuRElA/

Click to listen/buy the record!