These Ghosts Can Funk

Jacob Ortiz

ortiz23@up.edu

PORTLAND, OR– New York-based funk band, Ghost Funk Orchestra, rocked the stage of downtown Portland’s Jack London Revue on Monday night, met with much support.

The Jack London Revue, a famous haunt for jazz and groove fans, was not disappointed by Monday night’s performances by opener, Newark’s The Jack Moves, and the Ghost Funk Orchestra ensemble. Despite the show’s Monday night scheduling, the venue was packed– leaving many to dancing room only up front by the stage. Many in the crowd, like audience member Eli Brown, bit the Monday blues to, “Support the music scene in Portland– especially after the pandemic. I also really like Ghost Funk Orchestra, so I thought I’d watch them since they were in town.”

The Ghost Funk Orchestra– known for its blend of jazz, psychedelic rock, salsa, and funk– is the brain child of multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum. Ghost Funk Orchestra’s lively groove began during a dark time in Applebaum’s life. “In my early 20s [in a] garage rock, punk music, three piece band called The Mad Doctor as the front man… A very different era in my life,” he says. “After a big tour that we did that was like a struggle for me personally. I went back to my tape recorder and I just started making demos for this like slower, psychedelic sort of instrumental music, which you know, when I was in high school, soul and psych were really my bread and butter.”

The return to his soulful roots launched Seth onto a new trajectory. “It’s evolved because, as the live band caught up with the recordings, it also turned into its own thing. I started adding the vocal harmonies and horns, and that started informing how I wrote records.. I wanted to use those elements.”

Applebaum, who is primarily self-taught, arranges and writes the entirety of Ghost Funk Orchestra’s score– from the vocal harmonies to saxophone’s riffs. “It’s like a pretty slapdash writing style, as buttoned up and complicated as some of the songs feel. They came from a very sketchy place.” Applebaum’s air is humble and reflective, yet ready and excited for the future. Despite his impressive arrangements for a 10-piece live band, he refrains from the spotlight.

The Ghost Funk Orchestra’s tour continues on the West Coast as they prepare for the release of their next LP and remastering of older, previously cassette-only recordings this Fall. The shocking energy of the Monday night’s crowd remind us to watch out for these ghosts, you might just end up dancing.

Wanna listen? Start here!