Funk is not dead. As a matter a fact it's stankin' worse than a pair of socks that's been worn for two weeks straight. I went to see BabyStone at The Temple Bar last week and they were so funky my eyes were burning.

BabyStone is the brainchild of Novena Carmel (daughter of Funk/Rock legend Sly Stone), and Itai Shapira (member of the indelible Elevaters). I was excited, but admittedly slightly skeptical when I heard that the daughter of a legend like Sly Stone was breaking out on her own - some genes are not guaranteed to be passed down. But, when the first note hit and the beats dropped, my skepticism was quickly dispelled. Like father, like daughter. The Funk gene was in full effect.

That night, BabyStone was a ten-piece band that included a horn section, keyboards, bass, drums, background vocalists, percussion (Ben Hall from Elevaters tore the congas up and sang background), and guitar. The set was a swaggering, sultry mix of Funk and Soul with a dash of Swing.

Mr. Shapira kept things in the pocket as musical director and guitarist. While wearing a cape in ode to Larry Graham, famous bassist from the Sly Stone camp, he showcased his musical dexterity by leading the band through several different genres of tunes, all chunk full of Soul. Ms. Carmel sang lead and jumped on keyboards for a song just to let people know she's the real deal. The mini-diva resembled a young Tina Turner as she shook her money-maker. Despite being a young performer, Novena (25) carries the magnetic and feisty stage presence of a seasoned pro - you would never have guessed that this was their first time out as a band. You couldn't help but smile as her amiable persona lit the stage while she waved and smiled at the crowd. When she did the (soon to be famous, I'm sure) ‘Cookie Dansong' with her patented dance of the same name, "adorable" seemed to be the only appropriate word for her.

But be rest assured that, bubbly persona aside, BabyStone would love nothing more than to Funk you to death. Their rendition of the Sly Stone classic, ‘Sing A Simple Song' blew the roof off the joint. I'm sure daddy is proud. Ms. Carmel's sassy phrasing and vocal flavor kept the pocket of Funk full. Shapira's musical calling card already carries membership with Elevaters and work with Tita Lima - who knows what's next for the talented musician and songwriter? Together, Ms. Carmel and Mr. Shapira help usher in a new era of Funk and Soul with a perfect combination of melodies and stimulating songwriting. Those who think that Classic Funk and Soul songwriting with live instruments by this generation is over need to look past their Top 40 and MTV stations for a reality check.

I was fortunate enough to get a few questions answered before BabyStone goes global...

Cazembe Abena (LA2DAY) - How long have you been playing/singing?

Novena Carmel - I've been playing the piano since I was about seven, initially classical music. And I've always loved singing but really got interested in it as an artist/performer about five years ago when I did a performance in Japan with some colleagues in a student exchange program.

Itai Shapira - I have been playing music since I was 13 years old. I bought my first guitar with my bar mitzvah money!

Cazembe - Smart man. What instruments do you play?

Novena - Piano and recorder.

Itai - Guitar, Bass, Sitar, and Mbira. I am a producer and DJ as well.

Cazembe - Where did you grow up?

Novena - Mostly in the Bay area.

Itai - I was born in Culver City, CA. After about 1 year, we moved back to Israel. I grew up near Tel Aviv in a suburb called Ramat Ha Sharon until I was 6 years old. Then my family moved back to the US and we settled in Los Angeles, California (Culver City

to be exact). I've been here ever since. LA is home.

Cazembe - What brought you and Itai together?

Novena - We met through mutual friends a while back and realized we both had a mutual love for creating music... music that was different/unique, which incorporated different sounds and couldn't be labeled easily. Along the way we realized our creation synergy was amazing.

Itai - We had mutual friends who were in bands and one day, I was called up to play the same gig that Novena was called up to sing back up vocals. I didn't know that she even sang or wrote songs. Then I heard her play the piano and sing at a party and my ears perked. I heard the potential in her from that moment on. A few weeks later, I asked her to come by the studio and lay down some vocals on a new track I was working on. From that session, the song ‘Hello!' was born.

Cazembe - What made you want to put together a band?

Novena - I just love the feeling of performing with live instruments in front of an audience. There's nothing quite like live instruments and the ability to constantly create with a group of musicians, even in the middle of a performance. Every time we get together the set changes at least a little bit.

Cazembe - How do you classify your music? What genre(s)?

Novena - I always find this question difficult to answer because we incorporate so many styles into the musical production of it all. On our myspace page it says Progressive Funk Fusion. I kinda like that. I think "Alternative Soul" works too...it's vague enough. I think (or at least hope) that the music is just something you have to hear for yourself rather than us trying to explain it all with one title.

Itai - We do everything from Afro-Beat to Funk, R&B to classic Motown soul, New Wave 80's to Hip Hop, Samba Jazz to Rock/Pop.

Cazembe - Nice. Who does the writing? Producing?

Novena - Both Itai and I are involved in both aspects. Often times he'll bring me a track that I put my input on and then write to, then he puts his input on the lyrics I've written. Sometimes I bring a diddy I've worked out on the piano to him and he creates a track to it. I usually end up writing most of the lyrics and melodies that are sung, but it truly is a collaborative effort.

Itai - We share the writing duties. Sometimes I will write some lyrics or a melody, but that job is Novena's for the most part. I lay down the music in the studio and live, as a producer, arranger, and music director. I play most of the instruments, except for the keys and horns. Sometimes Novena will write a piano part, and from there a melody will emerge, and before you know it, a new song is formed. The writing process happens very quickly. We get together and hits start oozing out of us!

Cazembe - Apparently so! What was the track listing from the concert?

Novena - 1. Hello 2. 1, 2 Late 3. Sing a Simple Song (Sly & The Family Stone cover that we twerked out) 4. Halfway 5. The Cookie Dansong 6. In My Dreams 7. Ask Me 8. Miss Night 9. Can I Be

Cazmbe - I'll definitely be on the lookout for these tracks. How far are you away from completing an EP or LP?

Itai - We are currently working on our EP. We have about 10 songs already written but I think we will start with a 5 or 6 song EP. The goal is to have it done by the Spring of 2008. It will have a live feel to it, organic, like the energy of our live show.

Sounds to me like it'll be too much heat to contain on a little itty-bitty plastic disc. One play and your CD player's toast...

I gotta have it! Stay tuned, folks!

By Cazembe Abena

Myspace.com/babystonemusic