On June 28, Daptone Records will release their 100th 45, which features a collaboration between numerous performers off their legendary talent roster. On the A-side is a cover of The Frightnrs’ “Hey Brother” featuring the late Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones as well as Naomi Shelton, Amayo of Antibalas, Saun & Starr and more. The B-side contains “Soul Fugue” by The 100 Knights Orchestra, an ensemble featuring every horn player that has ever worked with the label.
The first side of the 45 serves as a loving tribute to the handful of Daptone artists who have passed away in recent years. The Frightnrs’ Dan Klein passed away of ALS shortly after releasing their acclaimed LP Nothing More To Say, which features “Hey Brother.” With both Charles Bradley, who died in 2017, and Sharon Jones, who died the year prior, on the track, the number honors these musicians’ respective legacies and similarly honors Cliff Driver, the former bandleader and organist for Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens who died in 2016.
The other side, “Soul Fugue,” was recorded on February 29, 2016, and features a number of horn players cramming into Daptone Studios to record the epic composition by Bosco Mann. Based on the Fibonacci series and the number 100, the piece was performed live by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings during their final performance at Prospect Park Summerstage. In a statement, “Soul Fugue” is described as, “an epic battle between two massive orchestral armies,” with the left speaker projecting the heavy sound of Daptone’s extensive roster of brass players, which were led by first trumpeter Dave Guy and Dap-King drumming legend Homer Steinweiss. The right speaker features a collection of woodwind players, led by lead alto saxophonist Ian Hendrickson-Smith and Dap-Tones stage drummer Brian Wolfe.
Listen to 100 Knights Orchestra — featuring current and past members of The Dap-Kings, Antibalas, The Budos Band, Menahan Street Band, The Extraordinaires, The Soul Providers and The Daktaris — perform “Soul Fugue” below:
Daptone Records’ 100th 45 will be issued as a standard black vinyl 45, as well as in a limited-edition die-cut picture disc featuring their classic globe logo. Head to the label’s webshop to pre-order before its released on June 28.
