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Galactic

History doesn’t stand still. It impacts, influences, and inspires the ebb and flow of the future by informing the present. Galactic draw on 25 years together in order to progress with each performance and subsequent record. After 10 albums, over 2,000 gigs, and tens of millions of streams, the proud New Orleans, LA quintet—Ben Ellman [saxophone, harmonica], Robert Mercurio [bass], Stanton Moore [drums, percussion], Jeffrey Raines [guitar], and Richard Vogal [keyboards]—have kept the torch burning through five U.S. presidential regimes, the turn-of-the-century, Hurricane Katrina, a Global Pandemic, and a much-anticipated recovery. They’re the rare collective who can support Juvenile on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, contribute music to a blockbuster soundtrack such as Now You See Me, and light up the stages of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (a staggering 22 times)

Joined by vocal powerhouse Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, they continue to forge ahead with a 2021 headline tour and more new music.

“There is a history to the band, yet we continue to release and perform new material,” says Stanton. “I’m truly excited for our fans and audience to hear this next record we’ve been working on. I think it’s some of our best work yet.”

They laid the groundwork for this future upon coming together in 1994. Two years later, the guys dropped their full-length debut, Coolin’ Off, and hopped in a Ford Econoline van (with trailer in tow) for their very first official tour. Along the way, they released seminal albums such as 2007’s From the Corner to the Block, boasting collabs with the likes of Chali 2na, Juvenile, Trombone Shorty, DJ Z-Trip, and Boots Riley. During 2015, Into The Deep marked their first debut in the Top 25 of the Billboard Top 200 and second straight #1 bow on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart. Not to mention, it boasted the title track “Into The Deep” [feat. Macy Gray], racking up nearly 20 million streams and counting. Along the way, they performed alongside the likes of Dave Matthews Band, The Roots, Jack Johnson, Talib Kweli, the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, B.B. King, Counting Crows, James Brown, and many more.  They’ve also recorded and performed with the likes of Allen Toussaint [“Bacchus”] and Big Freedia “Double It”]. Most recently, 2019’s Already Ready Already garnered acclaim from New York Times, NPR Weekend Edition, Exclaim!, and many more, while they’ve appeared on the covers of Downbeat and Relix Magazine.

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Live Review

Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience 2023

Read "Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience 2023" reviewed by Geoff Anderson


Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience Downtown Aspen Aspen, Colorado June 22-24, 2023 Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) has been around as a concept for a few decades now. The format and specific locations have changed over the years, but the basic idea remains the same: go to a beautiful mountain location and dig some great music. Mountains and music are a combination that works. But then, there's the question of the kind of music. ...

347
Live Review

Galactic/Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at Fillmore in Denver

Read "Galactic/Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at Fillmore in Denver" reviewed by Geoff Anderson


Galactic/Karl Denson's Tiny Universe Fillmore Denver February 20, 2010

The grooves were deep, the rhythms infectious, the funk ubiquitous. Saturday night the Fillmore in Denver served up a double helping of syncopation with Galactic and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. The Tiny Universe opened with an hour and twenty minute set of sometimes carefully arranged grooves. Galactic followed with two hours of a more primal and gritty version of the funk.

Galactic has ...

137
Album Review

Galactic: Ruckus

Read "Ruckus" reviewed by Charlie B. Dahan


On Galactic’s new recording Ruckus they blend their usual spices of New Orleans funk, jazz and soul with the urban sound and feel of hip-hop music and culture, along with a healthy dose of dance and techno. Galactic has found a niche on the jam-band circuit, which encourages freedom of experimentation, and that is what this outfit has been doing for the past few years. They have dug into the soul of urban music and come up with the sound ...

106
Album Review

Galactic: Nothin' Coolin' Off

Read "Nothin' Coolin' Off" reviewed by Ed Kopp


Galactic is a New Orleans jazz-funk unit that transports us back to the '70s, the decade when jazz-funk was at its zenith. This band owes a great deal to the Meters, the seminal New Orleans funk outfit that was always more popular with the critics than the public. The fact that Galactic is able to emulate the sound of New Orleans' finest funkifiers is itself a worthy achievement. But this group actually extends that sound, bringing in subtle touches of ...

163
Album Review

Galactic: Coolin' Off

Read "Coolin' Off" reviewed by Ed Kopp


Galactic is a New Orleans jazz-funk unit that transports us back to the '70s, the decade when jazz-funk was at its zenith. This band owes a great deal to the Meters, the seminal New Orleans funk outfit that was always more popular with critics than the public. The fact that Galactic is able to emulate the sound of New Orleans' finest funkifiers is itself a worthy achievement. But this group actually extends that sound, bringing in subtle touches of jazz ...

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Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: From New Orleans to the cosmos with Galactic

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: From New Orleans to the cosmos with Galactic

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, let's check out some videos featuring the New Orleans funk/jazz band Galactic, who are coming back to St. Louis to perform on Thursday, March 12 at Delmar Hall. Since their last appearance here in March 2018 at The Pageant, Galactic made big news in their hometown by becoming the new owners of Tipitina's, long known as one of New Orleans' top music venues. Though that venture has consumed some of their collective time and attention, they also released ...

Music Industry

Jazz this week: Melissa Aldana Quartet, Ben Wendel's "The Seasons," Galactic, and more

Jazz this week: Melissa Aldana Quartet, Ben Wendel's "The Seasons," Galactic, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis features performances from two stellar saxophonists, one of New Orleans' favorite funk bands, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, March 14 Saxophonist Melissa Aldana returns with her quartet for the first of four nights of performances at Jazz at the Bistro. Aldana, who was born in Chile and educated at Berklee, has enjoyed a fast rise in the jazz world since becoming the first female instrumentalist ...

Music Industry

Be Remarkable And Fans Will Come: Essential Advice From Marketing Guru Seth Godin

Be Remarkable And Fans Will Come:  Essential Advice From Marketing Guru Seth Godin

Source: HypeBot

In this piece industry marketing expert Seth Godin illustrates how artists must work to cultivate that about them which is remarkable and unique in order to spark interest and draw in fans, and that if an artist is both talented and worth talking about, the fans will come. Guest Post by D Grant Smith on the Sonicbids Blog In the film Field of Dreams, a farmer in Iowa named Ray is given a strange piece of advice, seemingly from a ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Sean Jones, Galactic, Pat Metheny Unity Group, Andre Delano, a Tribute to Eddie Lang, and More

Jazz This Week: Sean Jones, Galactic, Pat Metheny Unity Group, Andre Delano, a Tribute to Eddie Lang, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

As the city wakes up the morning after Fat Tuesday, there's no post-Mardi Gras slump in the schedule of jazz and creative music in St. Louis. This week includes shows from several noteworthy touring musicians, plus a homecoming performance from a well-known expat, and much more. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, Sean Jones returns to Jazz at the Bistro to open a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday. The former lead trumpeter with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jones ...

Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The Funky Cosmos of Galactic

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The Funky Cosmos of Galactic

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, we've selected for your viewing and listening enjoyment some recent videos of Galactic, who will be back in St. Louis to perform on Thursday, March 6 at The Pageant. Comprised of Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar), Robert Mercurio (bass), Rich Vogel (keyboards), and Ben Ellman (saxophone), the New Orleans-based funk/jazz/hip-hop band has been making an annual St. Louis appearance in close proximity to Mardi Gras for a number of years now, often bringing at least a couple ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Sachal Vasandani, Galactic, Kris Davis Quintet, Jan Shapiro, Bucky Pizzarelli and Denise Thimes, and More

Jazz This Week: Sachal Vasandani, Galactic, Kris Davis Quintet, Jan Shapiro, Bucky Pizzarelli and Denise Thimes, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's a jam-packed week of jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with local debuts from two noteworthy touring musicians, the return of some familiar favorites, homecoming gigs for three local expats, and lots more. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, singer Sachal Vasandani will make his St. Louis debut, beginning a four-night engagement at Jazz at the Bistro. Along with Gregory Porter, whom the Bistro presented for the first time in January, Vasandani is one of the most talked-about ...

Performance / Tour

Galactic Returning to Perform Thursday, February 14 at the Pageant

Galactic Returning to Perform Thursday, February 14 at the Pageant

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The New Orleans funk/jazz band Galactic (pictured) is returning to St. Louis to perform at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 14 at The Pageant. Special guests for the show will be singer Corey Glover of Living Colour, and Latyrx, featuring Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truthspeaker. Galactic last appeared in St. Louis in March of this year at the Pageant, touring in support of their then-new release Carnival Electricos. General admission tickets for the February 14 show at the Pageant are ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Herbie Hancock, Vijay Iyer, Galactic, Eddie Henderson, and More

Jazz This Week: Herbie Hancock, Vijay Iyer, Galactic, Eddie Henderson, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With what looks to be some nice early spring weather plus a diverse selection of jazz and creative music on local stages, it's a good week in St. Louis to get out to a club or concert hall and hear some live sounds. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, the New Orleans funk/jazz/hip-hop ensemble Galactic returns to the Pageant for what's becoming an annual visit around this time of year. Their special guests on this tour include singer Cory Glover ...

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Performance / Tour

Galactic: New Album and Tour

Galactic: New Album and Tour

Source: JamBase

NEW ALBUM CARNIVALE ELECTRICOS OUT FEB. 21 Galactic will release their new studio album Carnivale Electricos on February 21. This time around Galactic has collaborated with musicians and performers from all over this hempisphere on what is easily their most ambitious recording yet. Guest artists include Mystikal, Mannie Fresh, Al “Carnival Time" Johnson, Cyril & Ivan Neville, Moyseis Marques and many more. For complete details and pre-order information, go to www.galacticfunk.com/carnivale-electricos. Listen to the first single “Hey Na Na" feat. ...

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Performance / Tour

Galactic Returning to the Pageant on Wednesday, March 14

Galactic Returning to the Pageant on Wednesday, March 14

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The New Orleans funk/jazz/hip-hop band Galactic (pictured) is returning to St. Louis to perform at 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 14 at The Pageant. Los Angeles funk band Orgone will open the show. The gig will be almost a year to the day since Galactic's last appearance here at the same venue, and as with last year's show, they're bringing along some guests—specifically, vocalist Corey Glover of the rock band Living Color and trombonist Corey Henry of the Rebirth Brass Band, ...

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band / ensemble / orchestra

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Concerts

Apr 26 Fri
Galactic
Tipitina's
New Orleans, LA
May 3 Fri
Galactic
Tipitina's
New Orleans, LA

Music

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