Nick Pride and the Pimptones

Last updated

Nick Pride and the Pimptones
Nick Pride and the Pimptones Band photo.jpg
Nick Pride and the Pimptones in 2011
Background information
Origin Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Genres
Years active2007 (2007)–present
Labels
  • Légère Recordings
  • Record Kicks
  • Wack
  • Jazz Girl
Members
  • Nick Pride
  • Keith Nicholson
  • Alex Saxon
  • Eliza Lawson
  • Jimmy Brown
  • Pete Lawson
Past members
  • Oscar Cassidy
  • Ian 'dodge' Paterson
  • Dave Wilde
  • Alex Leathard
  • Tom Quilliam
  • Beth Macari
Website Nick Pride and the Pimptones on Facebook
Nick Pride & The Pimptones in 2018 Garage 2 comp.jpg
Nick Pride & The Pimptones in 2018

Nick Pride and the Pimptones are a funk/jazz/soul band based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Pimptones were formed in 2007 by guitarist, composer, and arranger Nick Pride. Their record label Record Kicks describes them as "a deep funk/jazz-dance outfit playing original music in the style of The Meters, JTQ, and Charlie Hunter. " [1]

Contents

It's the Pimptones

In the original line-up, Pride was joined by Oscar Cassidy (drums), Ian 'dodge' Paterson (bass), [2] Dave Wilde (sax and flute), and Alex Leathard (trombone). This first incarnation of the band can be heard on the debut release, It’s the Pimptones (Jazz Girl Records). [3]

In 2009, the band released the 7" single "Deeper Pimp" on Wack Records, [4] which received radioplay across Europe, including on the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6, and became the first of the group’s trademark "Live-Band Bootlegs," a unique approach to the Mash-Up genre and a show-stopping live feature. The success of the single brought live performance opportunities the North-East of England, supporting bands including Maceo Parker, Candi Staton, Youngblood Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band.

Midnight Feast of Jazz

A new horn section line-up (Keith Nicholson and Tomas Quilliam) yielded a tougher, funkier sound. The 2011 single "Waitin' So Long" featured Jess Roberts, [5] and the album Midnight Feast of Jazz [6] featured Roberts, as well as Susan Hamilton and Zoe Gilby. [7] Reviews of this album callied it "a very strong debut by Nick Pride here that you can dance to or just sit back and groove to", [8] "a refreshing blast of energy and musical enthusiasm", [9] and "There’s so much below-average funk being made at the moment, and so let this be a sharp lesson to all of those bands. This is how it should be done. More please!". [10] One reviewer commented that "these guys are certainly capable of throwing a party in your living room as well as in the town hall of your city". [11]

Re-juiced Phat Shake

The Pimptones third studio album, Re-juiced Phat Shake, [12] was released on Legere Recordings [13] on February 14, 2014 and featured even more guest singers. Nick Pride states "I was always a fan of amazing pop songwriters like Burt Bacharach and Holland-Dozier-Holland, but on the other hand, being a dedicated musician, I love the raw energy of being on stage with a funk band". [13] Reviews said "The emphasis is on songwriting backed with energetic, tight funky playing"; "an album filled with soulfully deep and satisfying recordings that are light on filler, yet heavy on grooves to keep your body shaking to the beat"; [14] "one of the most exciting albums of 2014". [15]

At that time, John Waugh replaced Tomas Quilliam sax player. [16]

Go Deep

With the sudden departure of John Waugh (sax) to join The 1975 [17] both Alex Saxon (sax) and Beth Macari (vocals) were brought in to re-focus the band on an older school funk & soul sound. The result of this is the new album Go Deep recorded live in Newcastle upon Tyne in August 2015 at Loft Studios, [18] and being released on Légère Recordings in June 2016.

Live performances / airplay

The group has played in many UK venues known for hosting funk bands, including the 100 Club, The Yardbird in Birmingham, Band on The Wall in Manchester, Hi-Fi Club in Leeds, the Jazzbar in Edinburgh, as well as festivals such as The Mostly Jazz Festival, [19] The North East Funk and Soul Revue, and The Sage Gateshead International Jazz Festival.

Internationally they have played at the Imagina Funk Festival (2015), [20] Novara Jazz Festival (2012) [21] and Swingin' Groningen (2012) [22] along with various gigs in Italy and Spain.

In 2011, The Pimptones remix of The Breakbeat Junkie track "Rock The Funky Beat" [23] become a firm favourite of the BBC6 Music Funk and Soul Show, and was one of the most requested songs on RAI Radio 2’s Pop Corner (Italy).

Nick Pride also hosts a Pimptones podcast centered on the band as well as other artists in the North East England area.

Band members

The current line-up for Nick Pride and the Pimptones is as follows:

The Pimptones have collaborated with:

Discography

Albums
Singles
Compilations

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References

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  2. "DodgeBass". DodgeBass. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  3. "Jazz Girl Records - CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  4. "Nick Pride & The Pimptones/The Breakbeat Junkie - Deeper Pimp/Turn It Up". Wackrecords.kudosrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  5. "Waitin' So Long / Lay It On The Line" (in Italian). Record Kicks. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  6. "Midnight Feast Of Jazz" (in Italian). Record Kicks. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  7. "home" (in Italian). Record Kicks. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  8. "Nick Pride & Pimptones - Midnight Feast of Jazz: Basic Soul Review". Basic-soul.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  9. "Midnight Feast of Jazz: Nick Pride & The Pimptones: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  10. "Blues and Soul Music Magazine - Columnist - The Snowboy Column (June)". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  11. "CD-review". Billybop.be. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  12. "Nick Pride & The Pimptones" (in German). hhv.de. 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 "Rejuiced Phat Shake, by Nick Pride & The Pimptones". Nickprideandthepimptones.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  14. "Nick Pride and The Pimptones - Reduced Phat Shake: Basic Soul Review". Basic-soul.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  15. "New video/45 for jazz-funk outfit Nick Pride & The Pimptones". Willwork4funk.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  16. "Quilliam Brothers". www.quilliambrothers.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  17. "Home | John Waugh". www.johnwaughmusic.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  18. "Recording studio Newcastle". Loftmusicstudios.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  19. "Nick Pride and the Pimptones - Mostly Jazz Festival 2011 – 1st-3rd July Birmingham, Jazz, Funk and Soul". Mostlyjazz.co.uk. 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  20. "'Nick Pride & the Pimptones' Imágina Funk Festival 2015 | jaen24h.com". www.jaen24h.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  21. "Nick Pride & The Pimptones ft SNOWBOY @ Novara Jazz Festival il 9 Giugno!". Exotique.it. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  22. "Swingin Groningen". Festivalseurope.wordpress.com. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  23. "> Release > The Breakbeat Junkie - Rock the funky beat". Timewarp Music. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  24. "NICK PRIDE & THE PIMPTONES - Record Kicks". Recordkicks.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  25. 1 2 "Old School Studios Live Session, by Nick Pride & The Pimptones". Nickprideandthepimptones.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  26. "Take Care Of My Love, by Nick Pride & The Pimptones". Nickprideandthepimptones.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.