Fully Funktional has gone into semi-retirement as of April 2005 whilst Pete concentrates on other projects and composition. CDs are, however, still very much available! Fully Funktional will almost certainly gig again one day, but that day could be a very long way off... The following blurb represents the state of play in March 2005:
Fully Funktional first appeared on the Cambridge music scene in 1992 and has been delighting audiences with its own brand of instrumental jazz/funk ever since.
Their high energy, horn-heavy style is influenced as much by New Orleans funk as by the JBs and emphasises composition as well as groove. The majority of the tunes are originals by bandleader Pete Newman, spliced occasionally with covers by the likes of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Carla Bley and Maceo Parker.
The instrumentation has gradually expanded to its current line-up as a 10-piece with 3 reed players (Pete Newman, Carl Brunsdon and John Barron), 2 trumpets (from Phil Tyler, Neil Waters and Michel Sedgwick), trombone (Nick Wells), keyboards (Joe Cole), bass (Fabian Bonner), drums (Steve Hynes) and percussion (Ian Pickering). Occasionally guitar (Tom Bainbridge) is also added and a variety of guest instrumentalists and singers have also appeared with the band.
Fully Funktional’s latest album, “No Frills”, was released at the end of 2003 and features 9 original tunes. See the CDs page for more information. A small number of the earlier CD “Intoxication” (1996) are also available.
