Favorite "( )" Songs #2 - "Take the L Train (To Brooklyn)"
@teamfreak16 (43642)
Denver, Colorado
April 30, 2017 2:21pm CST
We are nearly there. #2 in my Favorite "( )" Songs (Songs with parentheses in the title) series is the only instrumental in the countdown: "Take the L Train (To Brooklyn)" by Brooklyn Funk Essentials.
Brooklyn Funk Essentials is a musical collective led by bassist Lati Kronlund. The group formed in Brooklyn in 1993, and combine jazz, funk, hip hop, and reggae for a great acid jazz sound. They are known, in acid jazz circles, for their cover of Pharaoh Sanders' "The Creator has a Master Plan." Their music has been used in films such as Starsky and Hutch, and The Basketball Diaries, and TV shows such as The Sopranos and The Blacklist (they also had a song featured in a Fila commercial starring Grant Hill in the 90's.)
From their 1995 debut, Cool and Steady and Easy (one of the best acid jazz albums I've ever owned,) "Take the L Train (to Brooklyn)" is a beautiful, trumpet heavy instrumental full of feel good vibes that I can never feel down while listening.
The trumpet, it should be noted, is played by "Bassy" Bob Brockman, who, as a producer, is a two-time Grammy winner (he's been nominated 30 times,) and was nominated for a Best Song Academy Award for his mix of "There You'll Be" from the film Pearl Harbor. Such is the level of talent on this record.
Brooklyn Funk Essentials are one of my favorite acid jazz groups, and "Take the L Train (To Brooklyn)" is my favorite BFE tune. And since I've never heard a song by them that I haven't liked, that says a lot.
(Info verified by Wikipedia, Brooklyn Funk Essentials website)
7 people like this
6 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
30 Apr 17
Wow they did well for themselves Scott and their music used in films and shows too.
I am liking this one though I am not crazy on jazz this is really different. I seem to remember them somewhere sometime.


1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
That's acid jazz for you. Different. I love it.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
30 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 I love acid anything.

1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
@TiarasOceanView - I prefer mushroom anything. 

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (86778)
• United States
1 May 17
That's really neat. I listened to some of their other songs, and I can see why you'd enjoy them so much. A cool blending of a lot of styles.
1 person likes this

@FourWalls (86778)
• United States
1 May 17
@teamfreak16 -- oh, boy, you're using "What Are Those Things (With Big Black Wings)"!!! 

1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
@FourWalls - Oh man, now I have to use plan B instead. 

1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
You just described acid jazz in a nutshell! By the way, I think you'll approve of #1.
1 person likes this


@amadeo (111937)
• United States
30 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 no it is not.But still good funk jazz
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
I'm glad you like this, because it's not your typical jazz.

@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Apr 17
"You Have Got Me on This One (Again)"
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Apr 17
They aren't really well known outside of acid jazz fans.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
Acid jazz is definitely not for everybody.
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