Video: 60 Seconds with The City Champs

This band is a supergroup. I first met Joe Restivo when he was around 16. He was scary good even then, and he's only gone up from there. George Sluppick and Al Gamble are both absolute masters at their craft, and I fell honored and humbled whenever I get to play with them. I've heard so many bands try to do this sort of thing and just get it so wrong on every level. Well, The Champs get it all right and then some. In The Safe Cracker , [...]

Come for the Latin deconstruction of the "Mad Men" theme, stay for the sharp, playful jazz, R&B and soul from these Memphis jazzmen. For The Set-Up, the sophomore album from instrumental trio the City Champs, the, well, set-up is this: Come for the Latin jazz deconstruction of the theme from Mad Men (aka Aceyalone's "A Beautiful Mine"), stay for the sharp, playful jazz, R&B and soul. After all, there are plenty of worse ways to lure new listeners into the fold. Those who hear what guitarist Joe Restivo, Hammond organist Al Gamble and drummer George Sluppick (as well...