Encompassing celebrated artists such as George Clinton, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Alfred Pee Wee Elis and many more, star-studded funk collective, Smudge All Stars will release their debut self-titled album via Pegdoll Records on 27 November 2020. 

Smudge All Stars is Richie Stevens‘ audio intelligence collective. Richie is the son of the late John Stevens, a pioneer of British free jazz, and a gifted drummer, percussionist and producer in his own right. His talents have found him in constant demand, working with everyone from Horace Andy and Joss Stone to Boy George and Damon Albarn. Now, with Smudge All Stars, Richie leads a funk/soul ensemble that draws on his friendships with many leading black British, Jamaican and US musicians.

Smudge All Stars is Richie’s musical vision writ large. This is a party album in the old school P-funk tradition, all instrumentation is recorded live with Stevens calling on the original Horny Horns Fred Wesley and Alfred Pee Wee Ellis to help build a fat brass groove for the authentic P-Funk vibe and George Clinton vocals for the ultimate seal of funk approval.

Richie Stevens:

Eight years ago, compelled to generate some funk, I started a bag of jams. By chance, I ran in to Omar in a supermarket and he improvised some melodies on the sketches. Then sitting in Liverpool St station, I was compelled again, this time to reconnect with George Clinton. His vocal for ‘Up Is Just A Place’ was gifted to the project. This raised the funk bar so high that it took another five years to complete an album worthy of his genius and took the help of the finest musicians I know. This whole project is, in a word, a jam…..with the finest musicians and artists you could find, who wouldn’t wanna do that?

The 10-track musical extravaganza commences with ‘Brutal Funk’; a rousing psychedelic funk workout that encompasses a delicious groove cooked up by the famed Jamiroquai member DJ D-Zire and the powerful vocals of British soul singer Mary Pearce. ‘Up is Just a Place Feat. George Clinton’ continues the party vibes by bringing none other than the P-Funk master himself together with Mary Pearce, MWS, Derek ‘Dr Mouthquake’ Green and the decorated British soul singer-songwriter Omar for a full flavoured aural delight. Cue tight rapping, funky beats and scratching alongside slap bass and a slice of synth for good measure.

Other highlights include, ‘Freaky Toe’ which opts for a smoother groove than its predecessors with seductive vocals courtesy of Charlotte Kelly. ‘B Side’ sees Mary Pearce join Derek ‘Dr Mouthquake’ Green for another upbeat affair, accompanied by the legendary American trombonist Fred Wesley (James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic) who adds a distinctive touch to the track.

Elsewhere, the album’s ballad ‘Headache Feat. George Clinton’ sees the funk pioneer in a relaxed mood and joined by the versatile British-born singer-songwriter Niara Scarlett (Roots Manuva, M. J. Cole, Basement Jaxx, Xenomania) to provide the perfect vocal blend. ‘2 Cold 2 Hold’ follows with its gospel-tinged groove and adds a welcomed blues vibe to the album courtesy of Harmonica player to the stars Mitt Gamon (Godley and Creme, Boy George, The Ruts, Sam Brown, Murray Head, the Gang of Four).

The LP continues into its final triptych with former single ‘Our Lives’, a track that marries funk and reggae’s vintage relationship, showcasing instrumentation from Dennis Bovell and vocals from the legendary Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Earl Sixteen (Leftfield, Dreadzone). ‘Still Here’ features the outstanding British alto saxophonist James Gardiner-Bateman and MWS and last but not least, ‘Discopia’ encompasses the talents of Charlotte Kelly, George Pantelonius and Camelle Hines.