Defunkt originates from the flourishing no wave scene on New York in the late 70’s. A time and place in which the walls between avant-garde, punk, pop and jazz were blown up with sardonic pleasure. Joseph Bowie is the 12 year younger brother of Lester Bowie, the trumpet player that broke through the monopoly of saxophonists on free jazz. Joseph too counts as an iconoclast: with Defunkt he created funk inspired by jazz that brought him scorn from jazz purists. By now his first albums are classics and Defunkt’s role as pioneer for groups as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Living Colour (Vernon Reid played with Defunkt) is undeniable.

Joseph Bowie-vocals, trombone, John Mulkerin-trumpet, Ronny Drayton-guitar, Bill Bickford-guitar, Kim Clarke-bass, Kenny Martin-drums