New Orleans has a new supergroup and its name tells you upfront what it’s all about – Funk Monkey. Their untamed grooves showcase second-line funk, soul, & boogaloo that’ll move your feet and feed your soul.
In 2013, Bonerama’s Greg Hicks and Bert Cotton brought together a few friends willing to commit to building something special, something different than the other popular groups they’ve played with. Greg’s powerful trombone and Bert’s tasty guitar are complemented by some of the Big Easy’s finest – Brad Walker (Sturgill Simpson/ Ana Popavic) on sax, Rik Fletcher (Smilin’ Myron) on keyboards, David Pomerleau (Johnny Sketch) on bass, and Eddie Christmas (John Cleary) on drums.
What’s remarkable is how quickly these guys have moved from sounding like a super-jam mashup to being a tight-knit unit with a sound all their own. Performances at French Quarter Festival, Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo, Wednesdays @ the Square, Tipitina’s, and weekly residencies at the Blue Nile and the Maple Leaf have definitely helped the process, but their close camaraderie off the stage is also an essential part of their success.
In 2018, Funk Monkey released their first full length CD, “Rollin, Live @ The Leaf”
Rollin’ Live at the Leaf combines the infectious enthusiasm of the streets with the polished playing of premier musicians.- offbeat Magazine June 2018
