Cool and Steady and Easy

Brooklyn Funk Essentials

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 1995)
• Original Release Date: August 15, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002WT1
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #83,435 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take the L train to your nearest record store!, April 28, 2000

By	Peter R. Fischer (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one funky CD. Its funky but not too hip-hoppy, not too acid jazzy either. A solid rythm section holds the bottom end while horns and/or vocals literally bounce and float over the top.

Although this album in very New York (and these guys play live here all the time) anyone who likes jazz infused funk will be into this. Its not as light as the James Taylor Quartet and not as poppy or "British" as the Brand New Heavies, although in many ways, this disc is similar to both of them.

The Brooklyn Funk Essentials are more funky and jazzy with some reggae and world beats thrown in. This is outstanding funk with a spiritual, "feel good" influence. Check out tunes like "The Creator Has a Master Plan" and "Take the L Train." You won't be dissappointed.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brooklyn Funk Essentials Rule!, November 26, 2004

By	Willaume M. Kelley IV "ashanti_warrior" (Sacramento, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hey, let me just say this, if you haven't purchased this CD yet just go on and put it in your shopping cart right now!!! BFE's "Cool and Steady and Easy" CD hands the listener an eclectic offering of a acid-jazz-funk-soul-hip/hop mixture that totally succeeds and it is no doubt as you listen to each track that these folks had nothing but absolute fun putting this CD together! It sounds that good!!!

First introduced to BFE's funky, hard driving music-style while frantically driving a friend to the airport and in the frenzy of almost missing her flight, I later found myself the proud new owner of one of the best mixtures of acid-jazz-funk-soul-hip/hop influenced music that ever hit my ears!

Totally danceable, every track will get your feet moving; trust me, its totally impossible and absolutely irresistible trying to remain seated and simply listen to this jazz-funk-soul-hip/hop offering! If this CD doesn't find a permanent place in your CD player . . . well, I can't find the words right now except that it should, so what are you waiting for, click this CD into your shopping cart and dance, dance, dance and enjoy the music! Oh, and don't worry, I couldn't totally dis' my friend, besides, she missed this CD immediately once she settled in so I brought her a new copy!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A finely crafted blend of funk, jazz, and sampling., July 1, 1998

By A Customer

Brooklyn Funk Essentials' "Cool Steady and Easy" CD has spent more time in my CD player over the past couple of years than probably any other disc and with good reason. BFE is able to shift gears between instrumental jazz ("Take the L Train"), jazz-influenced funk (" The Creator Has A Master Plan," "Bop Hop," "Blow your Brains Out"), and tracks like "The Revolution Was Postponed Because Of Rain," that are just funny. The latter song describes the many pitfalls that befall a group planning a revolution, including being delayed by a new trainee cashier at a fast-food restaurant who wails, "Ahh, where's the button for the fries?" as the revolutionaries' moment of opportunity slips away. The musicians are excellent (they were all professional studio musicians before forming BFE), as are the vocalists. The sampling is appropriate to the music and adds texture - too many groups don't seem to be thinking when they throw in another James Brown sample. The music is loaded with energy as opposed to the more mellow offerings by other jazz-influenced groups like Morcheeba or Massive Attack. A good soundtrack to an urban summer, this CD showcases the flamboyant side of New York ("Big Apple Boogaloo" can be heard in the film "Party Girl") and is appropriate for just about any occasion. It is rare to find a disc that is this much fun; the musicians obviously had a good time with it, and the listener is drawn in to the fun as well. Buy it immediately.