Their company is easy. Their name is E. Company. Their beat is dirty. Their sound simply drips with swag. Hailing from the ever-classy New Orleans, La., each member of Easy Company adds his own unique flavor to the musical gumbo we know as jazz.
E. Company, composed of guitarist Chris Lippincott, keyboardist/organ player and vocalist Joe Shirley, saxophone player Rev Gooden, bass player Trey Boudreaux and drummer Dave Shirley, has been composing candy for the ears for music lovers for roughly a year now.
Lead vocalist and keyboard master, Joe Shirley, said he thinks one of the reasons E. Company’s sound is so unique stems from the vast variety of musical backgrounds of each stud member of the band. Some of the musical backdrops in these gentlemen’s lives are soul, rock, hip-hop, modern jazz and a decent dose of funk.
The band hails from New Orleans, which could be an adjective describing the members and its music. Its music, while having the ability to make the listener want to get up and shake his or her money maker, also possesses the serene quality to relax every muscle in the body; while enjoying a beverage of choice, with complying physical activity or laziness.
“We are a heavy soul band based out of New Orleans, La.,” Lippincott said. “New Orleans has been a great place for us to incubate because the city has such a rich culture and vibe that have cultivated a unique understanding of music in each individual member of the band to form an eclectic hole rooted from the craziness and beautiful spontaneity of New Orleans and its music scene. The improvisational element of New Orleans music has had a deep impact on our sound.”
While most were entertaining the euphoric thoughts of a summer laced with beach trips and sun-tans or graduating in May, the minds of the band members of E. Company were on very different things. They were recording their first full-length album with help from some of the music industry’s finest including John Snyder, David Farrell and Elizabeth McClanahan.
Their recording experience was in no way average. Dockside Studio is in the middle of secluded backcountry, specifically the town of Maurice, La., and provides an inspiringly relaxing atmosphere to absorb new music ideas and jam with what is already known.
“It’s cool for tons of reasons, but we just went out there and didn’t have to leave for anything. We ate there, we slept there, we jammed there. It was a beautiful place that was a great atmosphere to play and learn about who we are, what our music really is and where we want it to go,” Joe Shirley said.
One would think the music of E. Company simply could not get any better than the tantalizing jams of its first album but they have, in fact, proved that theory wrong with “ON.” Its new album did not stay within the confines of only its instrumental abilities, as it brought in a few strings players, not to mention some toots of a trumpeter.
When asked where they were planning on taking the music, Shirley implied everywhere. E. Company begins their 39-day tour this month starting in Philadelphia, Pa., sliding to Providence, R.I., then to New York as they embark on the journey of spreading their music down the East Coast.
The best news thus far is where E. Company is planning to take — or bring rather — its music this Friday. Band members’ affection for Starkville, and its locals is quite touching and they are showing it by having their album release party with us. And they aren’t coming alone. The members of E. Company are bringing along their talented companions of both Flowtribe and Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Shirley said, “We wanted to give our friends in Starkville a little sneak peak at our new stuff so we are having the party to not only play it, but also give everyone an opportunity to own our album the day before anyone else.”
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Easy Company chooses State Theatre for CD release party
EMMA HOLMES
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September 12, 2011
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