Members of Captain Hudson and the Funk Armada pose for the camera on the Tempe campus. (Photo by Saketh Paranjape)In fall of 2012, Hudson Lanier approached ASU administrators with what he believed to be a versatile class for music enthusiasts, regardless of their major. The administrators accepted the pitch, and thus created the Funk Ensemble class at ASU.
This spring, the Funk Ensemble class was offered to non-music majors by the Herberger Institute School of Music. Lanier, who is graduating with his doctoral degree from the school this December, instructed the course and spearheaded the creation of Captain Hudson & the Funk Armada, the class band.
“I love the music,” Lanier said. “That’s the No. 1 reason to do any project in music.”
As the director, Lanier says his focus for the class is on arrangements of funk standards and funky versions of jazz standards.
Funk music, a concoction of jazz, soul and R&B;, is unique in its rhythmic and harmonic cohesiveness. The band’s wide range of musical style can best be compared to that of Herbie Hancock and James Brown.
Lanier encourages each member’s individual style to surface in every performance, particularly in small group ensembles, which allow the musicians to fully exert their creativity.
The band also incorporates the improvisational elements for which the genre is notorious.
“A big part of the strategy of the class is flowing freely between those parts that are very highly rehearsed and fine-tuned and those that are not,” Lanier said.
Diligently honing in on those skills has paid off for Captain Hudson & the Funk Armada. With its short, two-semester existence, the band has made incredible strides in gaining respectable exposure. With its undeniable talent and invigorating vibe, the band was invited to perform at Urban Sol, a celebratory collaboration among performers, artists and scholars, twice this year.
Drummer Andrew Centanni, an education graduate student who is partly responsible for the funk movement at ASU, wrote, “Pollo Funkdido,” which the band performed at the event to a warm reception. In addition to writing and recording copious amounts of his own songs, he also manages the band’s Facebook page.
“We have a cult following on Facebook. … Our fans are really cool,” said Rob Kasprzak, an ASU graduate who plays electric guitar in the band.
The recognition the band has received is a true testament to the band’s talent, considering its primary form of promotion has been through word of mouth.
Adding to the appeal of the class is Lanier’s dedication to bringing in experienced guest artists to meet and inspire the students. On Oct. 30, the band will be welcoming legendary musician Emilio Castillo to its 6 p.m. class. Castillo, founder and bandleader of Tower of Power, will personally give a lesson to the band during the class that is also open to the public. Castillo will provide valuable instruction and advice to the band just in time for their fall concert.
Taking place on Nov. 27, the concert promises to be the perfect start to the holiday festivities. The free concert will provide an outlet for the band to showcase its admirable progress as musicians. Fans can expect the same finesse and inventiveness the band has formulated together, but it will be accompanied by a new level of sophistication.
“Every song is different depending on what instruments might be there," Kasprzak said. "Some songs we use full ensembles; some we only use half of the guys."
Captain Hudson & the Funk Armada consists of 10 members, but Lanier is bringing in two additional musicians specially for the pivotal concert. The band is assiduously working on perfecting their material to make the night unforgettable.
Fall has been met with milestones for Captain Hudson & the Funk Armada as they prepare for their biggest adventure yet — recording with Tempe’s well-known producer Clarke Rigsby.
Upon meeting Rigsby this summer, Lanier quickly secured a two-day recording session with the expert. Rigsby has worked with prestigious musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and ASU’s Marching Band. The studio, Tempest Recording, is now adding Captain Hudson & the Funk Armada to that highly esteemed list.
“I met Clarke, and I told him what I’m doing here at ASU, and he’s been amazing to helping meet people to bring in to be guests at my class,” Lanier said.
With Rigsby’s help, Lanier hopes the band can create a short album from the surreal experience. Recording with someone the caliber of Rigsby is momentous for the band. It is a once in a lifetime experience that cements its outstanding accomplishments in a short time span.
“It’d be nice to just have something tangible to take away from this class,” biomedical engineering junior Tony Facchini said of the upcoming recording session.
Centanni playfully interjected, “When one of us gets famous, we can sell those demos.”
Given the rapid development they’ve demonstrated, Centanni’s witty comment is likely spot-on. The contagious influence of the band’s vitalizing sound compounded with Rigsby’s expertise is just what might catapult Captain Hudson & the Funk Armada to success beyond ASU.
Reach the reporter at jurgiles@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @MrsMathers94
