by SCOTT C

Montreal's own answer to the growing prevalence of real funk bands who go that extra mile to get it right has to be Afrodizz. This eight-man Afro-beat powerhouse has made a name for itself right here at home after a busy year of live shows and precursor recordings. But this is the year to keep an eye on them. With their first full-length album waiting in the wings, these purveyors of authentic Afro-funk have pricked up the ears of more than one tastemaker overseas, and even have a gig early in the new year playing alongside Afrobeat god Tony Allen at London's legendary Jazz Café.

"We've been concentrating on writing the new album for the last few months," explains manager François Fayad, "which will be released sometime in the spring or summer." This can only mean good things for the boys, who've been holding down live gigs at l'Escogriffe, la Sala Rossa and many, many more local stages for a long time. And yes, these guys can play. Forget about dismissing them as Québécois funk brats because they're tighter than a baboon's ass and can hold their own beside established outfits like Antibalas, no problem.

"It was Andy Williams who spoke to Adrian Gibson in the U.K. about Afrodizz when he was travelling over there last year. We sent Adrian a demo, and three days later he contacted us about coming to England." The group's first 12-inch, featuring "No Time" and "Kalakutashow," was released on Gibson's Freestyle Records just recently, with plans for a full-length in the works. As long as the music remains raw, genuine and tight, the boys from Afrodizz should have a long and healthy career playing the music they love so much.

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