Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-03-17
Dave Mattock & Funktap return with Knucklebox, the follow-up to their 2020 trio release Funktap, expanding the organ-trio format into heavier grooves, deeper improvisation, and more adventurous textures shaped by years of live experimentation on the Philadelphia jazz and jam-band circuit.
Already earning praise from critics, All About Jazz writes: “The band moves as a single organism, pivoting from bebop-inflected lines into deep funk grooves without breaking a sweat. Chemistry like this is not manufactured in a studio. It is earned.”
The title Knucklebox refers to the “musical and technical puzzles” that define the record’s rhythmic and harmonic language. Where Funktap blended traditional organ-trio jazz with modern funk and fusion, Knucklebox pushes further—tighter grooves, more angular writing, and a harder edge shaped by years of performance-driven evolution.
Fans of groove-forward improvisational music will find plenty to love here, with a sound that sits comfortably alongside artists like Medeski Martin & Wood, Soulive, John Scofield, Cory Henry, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, and Snarky Puppy’s funkier explorations.
Dave Mattock leads the trio on Hammond SK2, joined by guitarist Jason Herrmann and drummer Josh Orlando, forming a tight-knit unit built on chemistry, feel, and fearless improvisation.
Mattock, a Philadelphia-based keyboardist, organist, and pianist, has spent more than two decades navigating jazz, rock, and improvisational music. He has released multiple independent albums—including Funktap (2020) and 1300 West Norris (2022)—and has contributed to recordings by Charlie Apicella, Jeanette Berry, Matt Galletti, and Tuk Fredericks. His performance history includes residencies at Time, Heritage, Slow Hand, and Nomad, as well as appearances at venues like Chris’ Jazz Café, Ortlieb’s, South, Iridium, and Fat Cat.
Album Details
Artist: Dave Mattock & Funktap
Album: Knucklebox
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Format: Digital + CD
Genre: Jazz / Organ Trio / Fusion / Jam-Adjacent Groove
Knucklebox Tracklist
1. Knucklebox
2. JRO
3. Opening (Intro)
4. Halfsight
5. Don’t Touch Me (JRO Reprise)
6. Just the 214 of Us
7. Meld (Segue)
8. Bar Fight
Listen & Explore
Spotify | Bandcamp | iTunes | YouTube
For fans of deep groove, exploratory jazz, and the ever-evolving jam continuum, Dave Mattock & Funktap deliver a record that feels both rooted and forward-looking—built not in isolation, but forged on stage.
