The KINSMAN DAZZ BAND have a long and complex history. They were founded back 1971 when young Ohio jazz musician, Bobby Harris put together a group called Bell Telephunk. Their music was straight-on jazz. Maybe it was that … or maybe that name, but one thing soon became clear – they were going nowhere fast. The remedy was to merge with another local band – Mother Braintree – to form a brand new unit – Kinsman Dazz. The idea was to fuse the jazz licks of the Telephunkers with the vocals and more user friendly melodies of the Braintree crew. We’re told that the new name – Kinsman Dazz – came from the Kinsman Bar (where the group became the house band) and the fusing of “dance” with “jazz”…whatever, in 1978 the mob got a deal with 20th Century Records and they released two albums but neither saw much commercial action.
With a few personnel changes, the odd electronic gimmick and a couple of tweaks to their soundscape the band dropped the “Kinsman” bit from the name and took the Motown dollar and the rest, of course, is history.
Over the last few years, though, original member, guitarist Michael J Calhoun has resurrected the Kinsman Dazz Band brand and their current single is winning plenty of support. It’s a powerful, moody soulful groove, ‘Ghetto Preacher’ . The vocals are down to gospel-trained Eddie B Sands and he preaches with total conviction – proper testifying
The single’s putative B side is another gospel tune, ‘Saved’ but the soundscape is a little sweeter, a little less threatening! We have no details about the vocalists but it’s not the firebrand Mr Sands, that’s for sure!
Both these tracks are good to go now and there’s probably vinyl on the way!
