Earsight

Earsight is a funk n' jazz quartet from South Carolina.
Band members are Adam Knight (guitar), Will Sinclair
(Hammond B3/keyboards), Tim Blackwell (drums) and
Tom Wright (alto saxophone) and between them they've
been involved with people like Ellis Marsalis, Wycliff
Gordan, Walter Blanding Jr. and Kenny Garret. Gig-wise
they've had the opportunity to open for a varied range of
jazz-based artists ... amongst them -Robert Randolph
and the Family Band, Maceo Parker, Wynton Marsalis and
Incubus.
As an introduction to their sound Earsight have just
released their debut long player – though at an
economical 6 tracks, maybe better to call it an EP. Small
though has its virtues and there's plenty here for serious
jazzers to enjoy with the opener, 'Working Funk' maybe
best representing what Earsight can offer. At six minutes
plus, it's a bouncy, bassy loose work out which maintains
interest throughout. 'Shell Game' is moodier and
broodier; 'Thanks (Again)' is fast... almost furious with a
rocky guitar sound; 'Arc D'Irie is stately, smooth even while 'Nephew James' takes it colouring from the souljazz
palette. These five tunes are all band originals, leaving just the mini album's only cover – a re-working of
Stevie Wonder's 'I Wish'. This Earsight version is busy and rightly funky with some great Hammond stabs and
Benson-esque guitar.
Find out more about Earsight and the album @ www.earsightband.com
(BB) 3/5
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 June 2015 20:13
(Bill Buckley) - SoulandJazzandFunk.com

When the Belleville Outfit reunited for a concert at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium earlier this year, the opening act was Earsight, an Upstate-based instrumental jazz-funk band that, on the surface, might have seemed like an odd choice to be sharing the bill with a roots-oriented Americana group.

It worked perfectly, however, as evidenced by the warm reception Earsight received from the audience that night.

“A completely different genre of music, and yet 500 or so people were extremely receptive to it and gave us a lot of love,” said Earsight drummer Tim Blackwell, reflecting on the well-attended show that served as the inaugural event for the Café SMA series in the auditorium's intimate downstairs arena.

“We sold a bunch of CDs that night too,” guitarist Adam Knight added. “People were like, 'we didn't even know you were around' or 'we didn't know there was a band like this in the Upstate' or 'wow, you guys are really good.' ”

Although its eponymous debut album has been out since the spring, Earsight hasn't yet had a proper CD release show in the Upstate. That will change when the band takes the stage Friday at Gottrocks in Greenville.

The six-track effort, which features four groove-laced originals and two covers, was recorded at Southern Tracks studio in Atlanta.

“It was recorded 'live' because that's what the band is about,” Blackwell said. “We did not go in and do it like a pop record, where you cut and paste everything.

“… Obviously, we could have gone in and perfected it with ProTools and lined everything up to be extremely precise and perfect, but it wouldn't have the same energy.”

For Earsight, whose lineup is rounded out by Will Sinclair on Hammond B3 organ/keyboards and Tom Wright on alto saxophone, the intention was to capture the spontaneous and improvisational aspect of the band.

“There might be a questionable note here or there, but there are some really magical moments in there where we all just connected,” Knight said. “The energy, the feel – that's what we do well. I love playing with these guys.”

Although Knight initiated its formation in 2011, Earsight is a fully collective unit in which all four members play an important role in cultivating the sound. Such contemporary outfits as Soulive, Galactic, Snarky Puppy and Medeski Martin & Wood are among the band's many influences.

As for its insistence on performing all instrumental music in an era in which such groups are rare, Earsight considers it a badge of honor.

“I think the whole perception of what music is has changed from what it used to be,” Sinclair said. “People don't really 'listen' to music anymore. They're in it for the show and the production and watching people dance around and stuff like that.

“But, you know, I think we're coming back to a more welcoming place in society where people are again listening to instrumental music.”

As a saxophonist, Wright appreciates being in a band that allows him to showcase his instrument of choice.

“What's cool about this band is that I'm able to use all the actual things I learned when I was studying jazz,” Wright said. “It's just a little bit poppier and a little bit more accessible to people. It's funny, I'll take jazz tunes I wrote 10 years ago and we'll play them out in a club and people will be dancing to them.

“It's like, I didn't write it for that (purpose), but it's cool that people do that and that people who would normally never go to a jazz concert are now listening to these tunes.”

Earsight, which has had its music played on trendsetting public radio station WNCW, is already working on material for its next album, which the band hopes to release next year.

“It's great that we're getting some exposure and that good things are happening for us, but, for me, it's more than that,” Knight said. “In my heart, it just feels great to be doing this.

“I'd rather be (playing in this band) than anything else, honestly. If I had to cut things off the list of all the things I do, I would keep this.”



Copyright © 2015 GoUpstate.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only. - Spartanburg Herald Journal (Dan Armonaitis)

It was a great pleasure to have Earsight come into the studio to film one of their songs for this featured music video. They are tremendously talented and a bunch of nice guys whose enthusiasm shines through their music.
They are "a high energy, organ-based funk/jazz/soul instrumental band with a New Orleans flavor".

Get out to their CD release party at Gottrocks on the 28th!

+ live, in-studio performance video (Sit and Spin Studios - in association with Fete Greenville). - Fete Magazine (Matt Morgan)