Daptone Co-Founder Neal Sugarman Brings Classic Soul-Jazz to Tel Aviv Festival
Daptone Records co-founder Neal Sugarman is set to perform at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival. The veteran saxophonist discusses the label's analog roots, collaborations with Amy Winehouse, and deep musical ties to Israel.
Early in the 2000s, amidst a cultural wave of ironic and cynical detachment in cities like New York and London, a remarkably sincere musical phenomenon emerged from Brooklyn. Daptone Records, founded in 2001 by musicians Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman, breathed new life into the raw, emotive sounds of 1960s and 1970s soul and funk.
The Roots of Daptone and Neal Sugarman
Neal Sugarman, a veteran saxophonist who has led his funk and jazz ensemble The Sugarman 3 for three decades, is bringing his authentic sound to Israel. He is set to perform at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, running from November 19 to 21 at Beit Romano and surrounding venues in the Teder compound, accompanied by Israeli guitarist Ron Megril.
Reflecting on the label's origins, Sugarman recalls the deep-funk and rare groove scene that inspired them. While Britain had a polished acid jazz movement at the time, New York collectors were unearthing raw, unpolished 1960s funk singles reminiscent of James Brown and Fela Kuti. This passion led Roth and Sugarman to establish an independent analog studio and record label that would soon shape a global revival.
Discovering Soul Legends and Working with Amy Winehouse
Daptone became renowned for championing veteran soul singers Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley, who achieved critical acclaim and widespread recognition later in life. Bradley, whom Sugarman described as a passionate street poet, passed away in 2017 after a deeply moving career resurgence. Jones passed away in 2016. Their raw authenticity became the defining hallmark of the Daptone catalog.
This distinct analog sound eventually caught the attention of producer Mark Ronson, who introduced the Dap-Kings to British singer Amy Winehouse. Sugarman's saxophone can be heard on landmark tracks including Winehouse's global hit "You Know I'm No Good" from the timeless album Back to Black. Following this massive success, the Daptone collective frequently collaborated with mainstream pop acts, though Sugarman notes that few producers truly understood how to capture their live analog energy.
Deep Musical Ties to Israel
Sugarman's upcoming performance in Tel Aviv builds on years of close artistic collaboration with local Israeli musicians. Having previously worked with the Hoodna Orchestra and produced material with the ensemble Jazz Funk United, Sugarman has recorded several unreleased soul-jazz tracks in Israel alongside local artists such as Ron Megril, Yonatan Riklis, and Yonatan Levy.
"We are very much in sync musically, so it is not far from what I do anyway," Sugarman explains, noting that his festival appearance will focus heavily on classic 1960s-style soul jazz and instrumental groove.
