The Funk Ark

$10 in advance / $12 day-of-show




The Funk Ark is a world funk ensemble based in Washington DC. The group draws on influences from the African and Latin funk/dance music scenes of the 1960s and 70s and the result is a gritty and soulful mix of inspired afrobeat and big band funk. Keyboardist and songwriter, Will Rast is well known for his work as a sideman with a veritable encyclopedia of artists both locally and internationally, such as Mya, Federico Aubele, Natalia Clavier, Ocote Soul Sounds, RAMP, Raheem Devaughn and Justin Jones. The coming year will find him immersed in no less than 4 records produced for the ESL Label including Funk Ark's own debut release and records by Thievery Corporation, Frank Mitchell Jr, and Ocote Soul Sounds, featuring Martin Perna of Antibalas and Adrian Quesada of the Grammy nominated Grupo Fantasma.

ESL Music's newest signing, the band has a debut album recorded which was released by ESL Music on June 14, 2011. Recorded at ESL Music Studios in Washington DC by Thievery Corporation's sound engineer Christopher "Stone" Garret, From the Rooftops is the funk-tastic debut album from The Funk Ark! Fronted by keyboard savant and long-time ESL Music session player Will Rast, the album delivers a healthy dose of vintage afrobeat, Latin, and funk stylings. Recalling the best of Afrika 70, the JB's and the Fania Allstars all at once, The Funk Ark is your new one-stop shop for booty-shaking vintage grooves. Shout it from the rooftops!

THE FUNK ARK: Matt Rippetoe, Joe Hererra, Elijah Balbed, Greg Boyer, Jeff Franca, Marc Blackwood, Greg Loman, Josh Kay Rodney Richardson and Will Rast with special guest, Morgan Price.