The Herbaliser 

Biografie

• Fusing jazz, funk and hip-hop, The Herbaliser offers heavy grooves inspired by American jazz and funk by the likes of Roy Ayers, James Brown and Ramsey Lewis alongside early east coast hip-hop, through the Jungle Brothers, Afrika Bambaata and Grandmaster Flash.

  Featuring Jake Wherry, former bassist in acid jazz group, the Propheteers alongside South London, UK DJ, Ollie Teeba, the pair create modern breakbeat and trip-hop that is instilled with early instrumental hip-hop tradition as well jazz and funk grooves, making them stand out from the crowd in the modern beat scene. The band initially signed with Coldcut's legendary electronic label, Ninja Tune, after impressing bosses Matt Black and Jonathon More with an early demo, before moving to IK7 Records in 2008.

  Their initial EP releases on Ninja Tune in the early 90s were warmly received, establishing the pair in London's (UK) breakbeat scene. Their debut LP, "Remedies," was released in 1995, helping to provide exposure to both the band and Ninja Tune. Their recordings were sample-laden, full of early funk and acid-jazz grooves alongside early hip-hop beats. Their second LP, "Blow Your Headphones" (1997), gave further depth to the trip-hop sound, with 1999's "Very Mercenary and 2002's "Something Wicked This Way Comes," focusing more on hip-hop elements.

  The group have also been commissioned to provide remixes for a number of artists, including DJ Food, Raw Stylus and Coldcut. Live, The Herbaliser play with a full band, who were also utilised for the recording project, "Session 1" in 2000. Their live band has slowly gained more influence with their recorded work, seen in 2005's "Take London" and 2008's "Same as It Never Was." The latter was their debut release on IK7 Records. They have since created their own label, Department H, releasing their seventh studio album, "There Were Seven," on this imprint.

  Throughout their career, The Herbaliser have collaborated with some of the finest acts in Hip Hop and the beat scene, including Roots Manuva, MF Doom, Rakaa iriscience of Dilated Peoples, Blade and Mungo's HiFi.

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