“Do you promise to funk, the whole funk, nothin’ but the funk?” You’d expect to hear
this timeless line from none other than the Masters of Funk, Parliament. But, when these words were sang in the middle of an electric performance by a European group out of Holland, I HAD to jump up and shout. Fellow LA2DAY colleague Marlon Ray, high-fived me and clicked away with his Cannon. Kraak & Smaak kept thumpin' as if Funk is simply a part of who they are - and it is.

Mark Knepper and Wim Plug have been ‘funkdafieying’ dancefloors as DJs and sharing the same eclectic taste in music for years. When you listen to their compositions it’s obvious that these guys are true students and lovers of music. Al Green and Parliament are some of their influences among many. Seasoned DJs respectively who have played with many top acts, they formed in 2003 and quickly recruited Rhodes virtuoso Oscar de Jong who shared their vision and helped tweak the knobs in the studio to define the signature Kraak & Smaak sound. Afterward, they began laying down some of the most sought after remixes around - I dare you to try and sit still through their stellar remix of Medicine by Mark Rae.

Realizing the demand to bring their music live, the three Dutchmen recruited longtime Go-Go Funkster, Reggae MC, and multi-instrumentalist Ro Krom, to ignite the live show with drums and vocals. Former Junkie XL and Shine bassman thumper Mark Baronner, came aboard to lay down a thick bottom of low-end, and finally Sister Rose, white-chocolate Soul Diva extraordinaire (you’ve got to hear her to believe it) blessed the mic with honey-dipped melodies wrapped in collard-greens.

And there I was with my partner Marlon at the El Rey, watching this Dutch outfit throw down shit so funky my eyes were watering. We initially saw them at Uitmarkt (A large festival in Amsterdam) in 2005. They were good, but had just started performing live. Before the show at the El Rey began, Wim said that they have come a long way since Uitmarkt – how about lightyears? These guys commanded the stage as if they had been playing together for decades.

From the opening of Money In the Bag, you knew you were in for something special. When a crowd dances continuously for an entire concert (especially in LA) there’s something contagious in the air. Good vibes were felt all around. It’s feel good funk. Kraak & Smaak are here to make you dance your ass off and feel good while doing it. Watching Oscar on the keys puts an all-teeth smile on your face. None of his contemporaries can make the clavinet sound funkier. With his blonde head nodding, I’m sure he was channeling Billy Preston at some point.

Singers Ro and Sister Rose are on a mission to bless you with funk. Ro is the consummate frontman. His boundless energy and innate ability to connect with the crowd in an endearing way will have you cheering for him. Sister Rose is just straight-up sexy… period. Effortless sensuality. And when she starts to sing – forget about it. She kills One of These Days and Keep Me Home. To keep my sanity, I had to constantly tell myself, “She’s not singing to you, man. She can’t even see you. It’s her job, man… it’s her job.”

While Mark and Ro hold the rhythm down on bass and drums respectively, Wim and Mark handle the ones ‘n’ twos, mixers and percussion. This is no small task. These guys mix beats and melodies seamlessly the entire evening. Many times you aren’t clear what’s live and what’s coming off of vinyl. Coupled with a solid light show and impeccable mixed sound, you realize you’ve stepped in the middle of Newschool Funk.

But, up-tempo jams are not the only thing that Kraak & Smaak are capable of. The concert also contained a seasoned mix of sultry and reflective down-tempo jewels. Oddly enough, many of these highlights came in the middle of their more up-tempo tunes where they would break into a slow Reggae rhythm or a Jazz excursion to showcase their dexterity. It makes you wonder what’s next for the Dutch crew once you realize how multi-faceted they are.

Together, this sextuplet is out to answer the lament of the soulless dancefloor. They’re here to heal you with forgotten Funk and wrap you in musical bliss.

So when they ask you, “Do you promise to funk, the whole funk, nothing but the funk?”

you say - “Yes!”

by Cazembe Abena

Kraak & Smaak

Genre(s): Electronica, Breakbeat, Trip-Hop, New School Funk, House

Members: Mark Kneppers (DJ/Producer), Wim Plug (DJ/Producer), Oscar de Jong (Keyboards/Producer), band members on stage are, Ro Krom (Vocalist/MC/Drummer), Sister Rose (Vocalist), Mark Baronner (Bass)

Country: Leiden, The Netherlands

Go to the LA2DAY Kraak & Smaak Interview here.

Go to the LA2DAY Ro Krom interview here.