Sunset Concert Series: The Pimps of Joytime

09 Jul Sunset Concert Series: The Pimps of Joytime

A returning feature of the 2016 Sunset Concert Series is the Town of Mountain Village’s Entertainment District, which allows for a fluid social atmosphere, literally and figuratively: alcoholic beverages purchased from designated restaurants – Siam Talay, La Piazza, Poachers, and Madeline – can be taken into the Common Consumption Area and enjoyed during the concerts. Next act on Teddy Errico’s schedule is Brooklyn-born The Pimps of Joytime.  Scroll down to listen to Brian J’s podcast.

Pimps of Joytime

Brooklyn.

Long time passing, for New Yorkers the borough was a punch line: the small town on a gigantic scale New Yorker ran away from. (Betty Smith, author, ”A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.”)

“It has been a long time coming, creeping ever closer with each new luxury condo and $8 million townhouse sale, every $17 bowl of ramen, $10 latte and cup of cold-pressed beet-and-kale juice, but now the end is finally upon us: Brooklyn is over. Done. Finished. Brooklyn as brand has overtaken Brooklyn as place, turning itself over fully to the project that was always its greatest work in the first place: the cultivation of a luxury lifestyle,” wrote The New York Observer.

No big surprise then that the Brooklyfication of Brooklyn, the making of a brand, comes complete with a sound track, local artists/bands with names like Sufjan Stevens, Black Marble, Yonatan Gat, The Britanys – and The Pimps of Joytime.

Yeah, it’s hard out there for a pimp – unless you are, say, Brian J, brand co-founder (in 2007 with vocalists Chauncey Yearwood and Mayteana Morales), and soul visionary, lead vocals/guitar of The Pimps of Joytime. With his fellow Pimps, the group has developed a rep for a shoe-shaking show and a sound the combines classic New Orleans funk, ‘90s clubhouse, ‘60s salsa, soul, disco, and blues with reggae, modern hip-hop, Latin, R&B, and afrobeat,

“This soulful outfit is a high energy, funky party that you’d happily expect to stumble upon in New Orleans and never want to leave,” raved Sensible Reason.

When it comes to throwing a party, the Pimps of Joytime raise the bar with swagger to spare.

Find out Wednesday, July 13, when the Pimps – Brian J on vocals/guitar; Dave Bailis on bass, synth and samples; Mayteanna Morales on vocals/percussion; Kim Dawson on vocals and drummer John Staten – perform live at the 2016 Sunset Concert Series. The free outdoor shows takes place every Wednesday through August 17 on the lawn near Lift 1 in Sunset Plaza, Mountain Village, starting at 6 p.m. to coincide with scenic sunsets.

(And right after Telluride, on July 14, The Pimps perform with Galactic and Boombox at Red Rocks.)

“A groove so tight you’d need cooking spray to slide out of it,” Elmore Magazine

Think Santana, Chic and the Meters infused with more punch for the modern dance floor,” Washington Post

“The Pimps’ musical concoction serves as a testament to the vital musical movement of New Orleans, but theirs is also flavored by Latin, Afrobeat, salsa, and pop and redressed with an urban sophistication.” PopDose

In 2005, Brian began to assemble a group of righteously soulful vocalists and musicians to assist in bringing to life the musical concept that would become The Pimps of Joytime. The band’s diverse sound and spirited attitude is strongly influenced by the Brooklyn DJ culture and live music scene from which they emerged. Collaborations have included legendary artists Cyril and Art Neville of the Neville Brothers and Roy Ayers.

Over the past decade, the Pimp’s grassroots following mobilized from the underground club scene in New York to sell out historic venues like the Fillmore in San Francisco and earn top billings at music festivals across the U.S. and Europe.

The Pimps of Joytime’s first album High Steppin’ caught NPR off guard when it dropped in 2007; its editors raved, “It has it all: soul, funk, punk, afrobeat, rap. I’ve not heard anything quite like it.”

The group’s 2011 release Janxta Funk! extended their movement even further into the mainstream circuit, with the title track seeing more than 1 million plays on Spotify to date.

The Pimps’ most recent release is Jukestone Paradise.

“If you’re familiar with Brooklyn’s Pimps of Joytime the first thing that most likely comes to mind is their live shows, which are bubbling with funky energy to say the least. The group’s third studio album, Jukestone Paradise, sees them harnessing their explosive live power within the confines of a studio into something that grooves from one musical style to another in an effortless, smooth fashion. Paradise emphasizes the band’s ability to fuse so many different genres together while never being pinned down to one thing and always making you want to dance. The mastermind behind it all is guitarist and vocalist Brian J…,” raves Glide.

Again, guitarist and singer Brian J is the mastermind behind the Pimps’ evolving mosaic of mixes and remixes, producing all of the bands’ records, as well as other solo records for New Orleans legend Cyril Neville and Corey Henry of Galactic. Brian’s genius is elevated by bassist David Bailias, who doubles as DJ, subtly weaving EDM club beats and synth keys throughout the group’s live show. Over top comes drummer John Staten’s funky break beats, which land in sync with the live percussion and siren-like vocals of Mayteanna Morales and Kim Dawson.

You might accurately call the The Pimps a “post-genre band,” a group whose sound— even within a single song— mirrors the diversity of a generation’s musical tastes. It all goes into the Pimps’ soulful roux, built on a foundation of rhythm and groove.

Yes, indeed, a band grew in Brooklyn.

Now Brian and his Pimps of Joytime are bringing the heat to the world stage.

To learn more, listen to Brian J’s podcast.