An Israeli band, The Apples
recently embarked on a UK tour, soaking up the sights, tearing up the dance floors and taking a large bite out of the UK club scene. Consisting of nine members (including two DJs!), the band are a mixing pot of funk, hip hop, big band jazz, rock and turntablism – all delivered in their energetic and off-kilter style.
These oddball funksters on Freestyle records have been on the scene, making waves and attracting attention for some time but I wanted to get to the bottom of their vision. I wanted to find out what made them tick and why their funk was just so right, so hot and well….so funky!
For the uninitiated; the band have been simmering away in the record bags of DJs and scene-sters alike for some time, featuring on uber-cool dance floor jazz compilations or being scratched up by London’s finest hip hop DJs, their tunes are making heads turn.
The Apples. Anything goes! (Photo: Guy Pitshon)
With a mix of two DJs, a bristling horn section and a solid rhythm section, The Apples don’t just deliver a methodical challenge to making grooves, their ingredients are also original and offer up fresh new takes on how to deliver funk to the dance floor. Weaving big band jazz into raw grooves and exciting scratch routines into the mix, you might find anything from Ray Charles samples to traditional Jewish Klezmer melodies. It's simply a case of "anything goes."
The band can be likened to four elements. The water and fluidity of two DJs on four decks; the wind of a sharp horn section blowing melodic life through the music; the earth of thick double bass lines bringing to ground all the quake of the groove; and the fiery beats drum beats setting the whole thing ablaze.
It is a fundamental sound that has been winning them praise and plays from DJs who are household name in the UK, such as Annie Mac, Zane Lowe, A Skillz and Mr Scruff. From BBC Radio 1 to the large clubs, festivals and boutique venues across the UK, The Apples are making their mark and getting a reputation for their art.
Their resumes read like an elite jazz unit with accolades and certificates from conservatoriums across the world. From the Rubin academy in Jerusalem, to the University of Haifa, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, to supporting Jazz legends in line ups in New York and across Europe - The Apples have done their homework! Whether its Dixie land, Funk, Afro-Cuban, Afrobeat or Klezmer this band have what it takes to reach out across generic divides and unite people in the groove and on the one.
I caught up with DJ Erez Todres to get the lowdown on the magic.
As with many bands of such caliber, they all come out of smaller groups and form a "super-group" of sorts. All the members share a vision, a passion and a direction in common. This is the catalyst that always brings the best bands together, and lo and behold, it was no different for The Apples. But it wasn’t easy.
Erez told me, "In 2002 the bass player who was in the UK at the time, phoned the drummer who was in Switzerland at the time and suggested that we create this monster super-group." With members in Tel Aviv, New York, Haifa and Jerusalem it was a logistical feat to bring this all together but they did it and now they are edging ever more worldwide. I asked what basic formula was involved when making the tunes and if it could be reduced to such a thing.
"Massive lashes of grooves with a variety of elements from different styles on it – rock, electronic, jazz, hip hop, classical'n'oriental."
Although you may think that that it must be difficult to balance so many styles and still hold true to a common theme, there is always a binding force in a successful band.
"Each one of the members comes from different area in music so The Apples is a great opportunity to blend it all together. The one thing we all agree is that James Brown is the godfather!"
They've never looked back and now have their 3rd LP "Buzzin About’" being released on Freestyle records and a busy touring schedule ahead.
Having just lapped Israel and now mid way through the UK the band is building on the many milestones reached and still working on the goals in sight.
Catch them on tour in the UK, USA, Israel,
EU, and coming to a festival or club near you this summer.
Gil Karpas
is a musician, concert organiser, DJ and broadcaster
, currently based in the UK
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