The Apples
High-octane funk where heavy brass meets live turntablism. It is jazz with a hip-hop pulse, built for late-night dancefloors and urban energy.
High-octane funk where heavy brass meets live turntablism. It is jazz with a hip-hop pulse, built for late-night dancefloors and urban energy.
The Apples sound like a high-speed chase through a Mediterranean metropolis. It is a dense, muscular collision of classic 1970s funk and modern turntablism, where the grit of vinyl scratching feels just as organic as the blast of a saxophone. The rhythm section provides a relentless, deep-pocket foundation that allows the brass section to oscillate between tight, disciplined stabs and wild, spontaneous exploration.
What truly sets them apart is the integration of the 'MixMonster' and 'Schoolmaster' roles. Rather than just adding background textures, the DJs and sound console operators act as lead instrumentalists, treating live samples and electronic effects with the same improvisational fluidity as a trumpet player. This creates a unique 'organic-electro' vibe that feels dusty and vintage yet technologically forward-thinking.
Start with 'Buzzin' About' to hear the band at their most cohesive and infectious. It captures the raw energy of their live performances while showcasing their ability to weave Middle-Eastern rhythmic sensibilities into a global funk language. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who wants jazz that moves the body as much as the mind.
The Apples (Hebrew: התפוחים) is an Israeli band, consisting of a drummer, upright bassist, 4 brass, 2 DJs and a sound console operator. They play funk, jazz and groove. The Apples started out in 2002, when a friend assembled the members of RadioTrip (Ofer Tal, known as SchoolMaster, and Uri Wertheim, known as MixMonster), drummer Yoni Halevy and bassist Shai Ran. The idea was to create a funky base combined with samples, scratching, and a dominant brass division. Their first impressions were actually spontaneous improvisations, which formed the basis of The Apple's first album, "Mitz" (Hebrew for "juice"), published on 2003, which was recorded in one recording session. Their second album, "Attention!" was released in October 2005. The album launch was accompanied by a tour culminating in New Year's Eve at the "Comfort" club in Tel Aviv in front of an audience of about 700 people. The UK edition of "Attention!" was released in 2006. The record contains a bonus track: "Strip Ahskrac 'first Hebrew'". In May 2008, The Apples released their third album "Buzzin' About", and in 2010, they released their fourth album, "Kings". The band collaborated with Fred Wesley, the Trombonist musical director of James Brown, and Shlomo Bar, lead singer Natural Selection.
Shares trumpet, jazz fusion, funk, nu jazz (instrumentation)
Shares turntables, trumpet, sample based, jazz fusion (signature)
Shares trumpet, jazz fusion, funk, nu jazz (instrumentation)
Shares big band, trumpet, jazz fusion, funk (subgenre)
Shares jazz fusion, funk, nu jazz, instrumental only (subgenre)
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