Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on November 8, 2025
The Motet | Brooklyn Bowl | October 30, 2025 | photos by Jamie Huenefeld/Killahwave
The Motet has become a staple of modern funk, powered by intricate horn lines, soulful vocals, and deep grooves in the jam scene. They performed a special Jamiroquai-themed show as their Halloween costume for four nights only. The legendary Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY made the cut and hosted this well-known Denver, CO–based band on October 30, 2025. Producer and saxophonist Michael Wilbur from Brooklyn, NY provided support.
Jamiroquai is a British funk and acid-jazz collective formed in London in 1992 by frontman Jay Kay. Blending slick grooves, live instrumentation, and space-age flair, they became pioneers of the 1990s acid-jazz movement — and later global icons of modern funk, bridging the gap between Stevie Wonder-style soul, ’70s disco, and club-ready electronica.
Armed with numerous saxophones, Michael Wilbur started the evening by fusing the deep grooves of funk, hip-hop, and jazz with the pulse of modern electronic and dance music. His show included live instrument sampling combined with Ableton Live, in a similar vein to Big Gigantic or Griz but without a supporting band. Wilbur wielded the bass saxophone like a bass guitar and even hopped into the crowd to perform a tune. His high-energy show brought a definitive jam-band feel and was the perfect bridge to The Motet.
Dressed in all-white clothing, The Motet kicked off their funky set with “Emergency on Planet Earth” from Jamiroquai’s 1993 release of the same name. This tune provided a steady mid-tempo groove as vocalist Sarah Clarke energized the fans. Bassist Garrett Sayers had a thumping solo early on. The sleek, disco-funk “High Times,” from Traveling Without Moving, was highlighted by guitarist Ryan Jalbert. Multi-instrumentalist Drew Sayers complemented on the synth.
Clarke delivered the space-love lyrics of “Cosmic Girl” with perfection. Also from Traveling Without Moving, this glossy, disco-pop tune included syncopated guitar and plenty of dancing by the fans. The band continued with two more Traveling tunes, starting with the rhythmically driven “Use the Force.” Drummer Dave Watts elevated this tune with his dynamic beats. “Alright” brought a feel-good, celebratory funk that permeated every corner of the Brooklyn Bowl.
“Light Years,” from The Return of the Space Cowboy, was elevated by Drew Sayers on saxophone along with a guest trumpeter. The song brought uptempo jazz-funk that was tightly coupled with ’70s fusion energy. Saxophonist Michael Wilbur joined the party during “Hooked Up,” which featured snappy acid-jazz sections. This Emergency on Planet Earth tune showcased the band’s ability to channel Jamiroquai. The perennial laid-back funk gem “Space Cowboy” explored Clarke’s range and included psychedelic overtones.
The band jumped into Jamiroquai’s later catalog with “Love Foolosophy” from A Funk Odyssey, released on September 3, 2001. “Traveling Without Moving” combined breakbeat funk with intergalactic swagger. The smooth groove known as “Too Young To Die” followed and included more trumpet and euphonious vocals from Clarke. Keyboardist Joey Porter added a sweet synth jam at the end.
The tempo dialed up with “Canned Heat” from Synkronized. This explosive disco-funk anthem had the crowd dancing with intensity. The set ended with A Funk Odyssey’s “Little L,” where Porter elevated this nu-disco banger on the melodica. The band returned for an encore, which sent the fans home with a satisfied funk appetite.
The Motet is back in action on November 8 at The Atlantis in Washington, D.C. Next week, they head south with shows in Charlotte, NC (Nov 12), Chattanooga, TN (Nov 13), Atlanta, GA (Nov 14), and Nashville, TN (Nov 15). Heading into December, the band will play several shows in their home state of Colorado, including Colorado Springs (Dec 5), Fort Collins (Dec 6), Steamboat Springs (Dec 13), and two shows in Aspen on Dec 27. The band will ring in the new year at Soundwell in Salt Lake City, UT. Tickets are available via this link. Heading into 2026, they are slated to perform at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, CO on January 9. Keep tabs on their tour page for more 2026 show announcements.
Check out more photos from The Motet and Michael Wilbur.
Date: October 30, 2025
Band: The Motet
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Venue: The Brooklyn Bowl
Set: Emergency On Planet Earth, High Times, Cosmic Girl, Use the Force, Alright, Light Years, Hooked Up, Space Cowboy,
Love Foolosphy, Traveling Without Moving, Too Young To Die, Canned Heat, Little L
Notes: All by Jamiroquai
