Dave Mullen & Butta @ Shrine – NYC (8/1/08)

The smooth & creamy sounds of BUTTA (featuring the horniest horn player in the NYC, Dave Mullen) began at 11:15pm, with an intro that resembled the beginning of The Meters’s “Funky Miracle”, which led into the funky “Mahoney’s Way”, featuring lead vocals by The Original Eric-Jay, some good wah-wah guitarisms by the one they call GROOVALICIOUS, and the lively saxophone riffing of the BUTTA-FUNK KING……….. (drumroll, please)………………….DAVE MULLEN!! “March of the Roaches” was good, and “Flip It” followed, with the cool, jazzy piano riffing of Etienne Lytle. The best performance of the evening was the uptempo jazz-funk stylings of “Like Rashaan”, featuring some really nice conga playing by The Original Eric-Jay, horny horn riffing with both alto & tenor saxes simultaneously by Dave, strong basswork by Don Martin, and a powerful, kick-butt drum solo by Bernard Davis!!! Unfortunately, since the Shrine wanted to throw a DJ Party after midnight, BUTTA was forced to vacate the stage at 12:00 midnight….WHAT???!!!!!!!

David Brooks
http://www.brookenstein.com