In a musical landscape often obsessed with chasing forward-thinking genre-blurring trends, The Noah Peterson Soul-Tet chooses to tune out the noise. With their latest project, The Real Deal, they’ve opted to step back and move at their own pace, surfacing a classic funk album that feels refreshing by simply being honest.
Written and arranged by saxophonist Noah Peterson, the album sticks to its “less is more” philosophy. Peterson’s songwriting fluctuates between classic 12-bar bluesy themes but also more intriguing chord progressions, yet never pretentious or over-engineered. A production that focusing on the human element of funk.
With a clear focus on the vibe, every rhythmic element locks into a different pocket, creating a rich groove that makes you wanna start moving. Additionally, the slight timing imperfections allow the tracks to breathe and pulse naturally. Too quantized = funk dies. Finally this is a team effort, not a competition. The constant call-and-response between the instruments ensures no one is fighting for the spotlight.
While Peterson’s saxophone leads the charge, the soulful, gritty texture of the organ plays a central role in the project’s sound. And while the album is primarily instrumental, rare vocal moments like “Baby Don’t Cry” provide a nice shift in texture.
The tracklist balances high-energy, groove-heavy pieces with moments of genuine romance. In tracks like “Your Love is Mine” and “Baby Don’t Cry,” the “Soul” in Soul-Tet really shines.
Ultimately, The Real Deal doesn’t try too hard to impress. On the contrary is sounds confident and grounded and more importantly true to its vibe.
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