Nick Pride and the Pimptones
Encyclopedia
Nick Pride and the Pimptones are a funk / jazz / soul band based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Pimptones were formed in 2007 as a project for guitarist, composer and arranger Nick Pride. Their record label Record Kicks describes them as "a deep funk / jazz-dance outfit playing original material in the style of The Meters, JTQ and Charlie Hunter. The group is equally at home in a noisy nightclub or intimate jazz setting, and is most likely to bring the roof of either down with their heavy dancefloor grooves, big breaks and sophisticated jazz numbers"
In 2009 the band released the 7” single "Deeper Pimp" on Wack Records , which went on to enjoy extended radioplay across Europe including the Craig Charles
Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6 and became the first of the group’s trademark “Live-Band Bootlegs”, a unique approach to the Mash-Up genre, and a show stopping live feature. The success of the single helped ensure more live opportunities for the Pimptones and promoters drafted the group in to support touring acts such as Maceo Parker
, Candi Staton
, Youngblood Brass Band
and Hot 8 Brass Band
.
, "There’s so much below-average Funk being made at the moment and so let this be a sharp lesson to all of those bands. This is how it should be done. More please!", and that "these guys are certainly capable of throwing a party in your living room as well as in the town hall of your city" . The album has enjoyed chart success across Europe and also in Japan, where it peaked at number 6 in the iTunes Jazz Chart .
The group’s touring schedule has also taken them to many of the UK’s finest funk venues including the 100 Club
, The Yardbird in Birmingham, Band on The Wall in Manchester, Hi-Fi Club in Leeds, the Jazzbar in Edinburgh, as well as festivals such as The Mostly Jazz Festival, The North East Funk and Soul Revue and The Sage Gateshead International Jazz Festival.
Earlier in 2011, The Pimptones remix of The Breakbeat Junkie track “Rock The Funky Beat” had become a firm favourite of the BBC6 Music Funk and Soul Show, and was one of the most requested songs on RAI Radio 2’s Pop Corner (Italy).
Nick Pride also produces the Pimptones podcast designed to highlight up and coming music from the band and from other artists in the North East.
Two of the band members (Nick Pride and Ian 'dodge' Paterson) are also members of Sharks Took the Rest
, a Newcastle based folk
/ chamber-pop band.
And ongoing collaborations with:
Singles
Compilations
Original band lineup
In the original line up, Pride was joined by Oscar Cassidy (drums), Ian 'dodge' Paterson (bass) , Dave Wilde (sax and flute) and Alex Leathard (trombone). This first incarnation of the band can be heard on the debut release “It’s The Pimptones”(Jazz Girl Records) .In 2009 the band released the 7” single "Deeper Pimp" on Wack Records , which went on to enjoy extended radioplay across Europe including the Craig Charles
Craig Charles
Craig Joseph Charles is an English actor, stand-up comedian, author, poet, radio and television presenter, best known for playing Dave Lister in the British cult-favourite science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf...
Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6 and became the first of the group’s trademark “Live-Band Bootlegs”, a unique approach to the Mash-Up genre, and a show stopping live feature. The success of the single helped ensure more live opportunities for the Pimptones and promoters drafted the group in to support touring acts such as Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
, Candi Staton
Candi Staton
Candi Staton is an American soul and gospel singer, best known for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" and her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free". In 2007, Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
, Youngblood Brass Band
Youngblood Brass Band
The Youngblood Brass Band is a brass band from Oregon, Wisconsin, United States that was started by students at Oregon High School in 1995 when they were known as the One Lard Biskit Brass Band with the name changed to the current name in 1998.-History:...
and Hot 8 Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band
The Hot 8 Brass Band is a New Orleans based brass band that blends hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. It was formed by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995, the merging of two earlier bands, the Looney Tunes Brass Band and the High Steppers Brass...
.
Second band lineup plus collaborators
The departure of the first horn section and the arrival of the new horn section (Keith Nicholson and Tomas Quilliam) heralded the start of the new line up for the Pimptones and a new tougher funkier sound. 2011 saw the release of the single “Waitin’ So Long feat Jess Roberts”, and later the album “Midnight Feast of Jazz” featuring Jess Roberts, Susan Hamilton and Zoe Gilby, both on Milan based label Record Kicks . This album was well received with reviews calling it "a very strong debut by Nick Pride here that you can dance to or just sit back and groove to" , "A refreshing blast of energy and musical enthusiasm", "There’s so much below-average Funk being made at the moment and so let this be a sharp lesson to all of those bands. This is how it should be done. More please!", and that "these guys are certainly capable of throwing a party in your living room as well as in the town hall of your city" . The album has enjoyed chart success across Europe and also in Japan, where it peaked at number 6 in the iTunes Jazz Chart .
The group’s touring schedule has also taken them to many of the UK’s finest funk venues including the 100 Club
100 Club
The 100 Club is a music venue in London situated at 100 Oxford Street, W1, originally called The Feldman Swing Club.The 100 Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942....
, The Yardbird in Birmingham, Band on The Wall in Manchester, Hi-Fi Club in Leeds, the Jazzbar in Edinburgh, as well as festivals such as The Mostly Jazz Festival, The North East Funk and Soul Revue and The Sage Gateshead International Jazz Festival.
Earlier in 2011, The Pimptones remix of The Breakbeat Junkie track “Rock The Funky Beat” had become a firm favourite of the BBC6 Music Funk and Soul Show, and was one of the most requested songs on RAI Radio 2’s Pop Corner (Italy).
Nick Pride also produces the Pimptones podcast designed to highlight up and coming music from the band and from other artists in the North East.
Two of the band members (Nick Pride and Ian 'dodge' Paterson) are also members of Sharks Took the Rest
Sharks Took The Rest
Sharks Took the Rest are a British alternative pop band brought together by Beccy Owen and Adam Kent. The band are based in the North East of England and write original songs that incorporate influences from many different genres, including pop, Alternative Rock, Jazz, Ambient music, Electronic...
, a Newcastle based folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
/ chamber-pop band.
Band members
The current line-up for Nick Pride and the Pimptones is as follows:- Nick Pride - guitar, vocals, song-writer
- Oscar Cassidy - drums
- Ian 'dodge' Paterson - electric bass
- Keith Nicholson - trumpet
- Tom Quilliam - saxophone
And ongoing collaborations with:
- Chris Hibbard - trombone
- Dave Wilde - saxophone, flute
- Alex Leathard - trombone
- Graham Hardy - trumpet, flugel horn
- John Wheeler - saxophone
- James Peacock - keyboard
- Paul Edis - piano
- Paul Loraine - keyboard
- Laurie Shepherd - guest vocals
- Zoe Gilby - guest vocals
- Jess Roberts - guest vocals
- Susan Hamilton - guest vocals
- Adam Sinclair - drums
Discography
Albums- It's The Pimptones!!!!!!! (2009 - Jazz Girl Records)
- Midnight Feast of Jazz (2011 - Record Kicks)
Singles
- Deeper Pimp (2009 - Wack Records)
- Waitin’ So Long feat Jess Roberts (2011 - Record Kicks)
Compilations
- Smoove Presents Mo’ Record Kicks (2011 - Record Kicks)