Melonious Funk


Melonious Funk last year appeared as a fringe event in our showcase venue but a multitude of people told us that they merited a main venue listing and so we listened to them ourselves and had to agree.

The band name is a play on the name of legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
The band is a young jazz-funk outfit from Exeter, formed in early 2006 through jamming in DYJO (Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra.) The group quickly gelled to create their own dynamic and original sound, surprisingly aided by the lack of a keyboard or synth. 'Funked-up' jazz covers were the bread and butter of early performances, but soon enough a core of original material was created for the group's standard set list.

The pieces utilise fusion, funk, hip-hop and latin styles along with jazz, creating a unique flavour.
On alto sax is Ben Lowman, gigging since his teens in and around Devon both solo and with cover bands. His influences include David Sanborn, Soweto Kinch and Maceo Parker. Completing the frontline is trombonist and strong composer Patrick Friel, currently studying music at Manchester University.
Bassist Nicky Pilkington is principally a saxophone player, but picked up bass after strong musical influences from bassist's such as Marcus Miller and Jaco Pastorius.
Tim Carter is a talented guitarist, he has kept a full gigging schedule since high school, playing all styles from straight jazz through to rock and pop.
Drummer Holly Madge has an individual rhythmic voice, and while studying music at Southampton University she has proven that gender never need be an issue in music making!

Quoted in blues and soul magazine; "with skills so tight they cut off circulation, the future looks bright for melonious funk"