I discovered them during a small gig in a French shop, where they played to promote their new album “bumble beat”. Though they had a very basic settling (tiny stage, few amplifiers…) their sound’s harmony and balance was amazing. It is even more stricking as they were 8 musicians on the stage (and three were missing)! Still, the beat was heavy, the bass groovy and the sax, trumpet and others took well-balanced chorus and listened to each other as if they were jazz musicians. But the Freebeez play funk and an astonishing funk! That kind of old-school sound inspired by James Brown and Sly.
What I loved about their performance is that these middle-aged French musicians looked as if they had gone all through the hardships of trying to live from their passion. Yet they had this genuine joy, this respect for the funk’s fathers and an originality (surprising notes, old-fashioned clothes, French touch). I was really blown away! And actually, I only attended to their last song!