Soulive Return in Full Bloom on Flowers, Their First Album in 15 Years

Photo: Courtesy of Soulive

There’s a charming Icelandic proverb that reads, “distance makes the mountain blue,” equating to the notion that the further one gets away from something, particularly their home, the more beautiful and nostalgic it becomes in one’s mind. The same can be said about the return of iconic organ trio Soulive and their release of their first full-length album in 15 years.

With Flowers, recorded at northern Iceland’s Flóki Studios under the direction of studio owner and executive producer Chad Pike, Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans (organ) have delivered an album that finds a band of brothers at a comfortable point in their long, storied career. No longer the road warriors of yesteryear that established them amongst the top touring acts in the jam and jazz/funk adjacent scenes some 25+ years ago, Soulive puts on a showcase of their eclectic musical sensibilities and tonal mastery on their latest studio effort; warm and reminiscent but all together new and fresh.

“XI” sets the table with an undeniable, haunting groove that could just as easily be found on a deep cut of a 45’ stashed away in the stacks of your favorite record store. With the Evans’ brothers doing the heavy lifting on percussion, Krasno adds some great reverb and echo that oozes swagger, a trademark of his deft guitar playing.

As the album progresses, we get back to the heart and soul of the Soulive sound on “Baby Jupiter,” an instant mover and shaker, followed by a Parliament-esque composition in “Flowers at Your Feet,” featuring the only vocals on the album with an appearance from Grammy Award winning soul artist Van Hunt.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Flowers is the variety and balance the band found in their love and knowledge of the jazz, funk, r&b and blues canons. It’s apparent on “3 Kings,” an homage to the blues legends B.B. King, Freddie King and Albert King. One would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable player than Kraz to salute some of the stalwarts of American blues music. It’s a sexy, sultry tune that begs the listener to mop up every morsel of grime and flavor this one puts out.

“East Side” slows things down at the half way point, an instrumental crooner for certain, before moving into “Basher,” another tribute, this time to Don Cheadle’s character in the Oceans 11 movie. The smooth, polished, tasteful funk this outfit continues to put out is a testament to decades of playing alongside one another and a borderline telepathy the trio share. Stop/start, up tempo/down tempo, this one has it all.

“Butter Rock” begins the final run of the record, a straight-forward ahead funk piece that would impress any NOLA Jazz Fest crowd. On “Vines,” Kraz lets it all hang out, with Alan Evans’ crashing cymbals and Neal Evans’ soaring organ licks. Again, it’s hard to overstate how well of an oiled-machine Soulive continues to be these many years later.

With “Pikes Place,” the listener is transported to what feels like an ascent up one of Iceland’s aforementioned blue mountains. Slick organ work and all the fuzz you can handle from the guitar, the journey is paid off with the climax of “Window Weather.” This is the reward for the listener. A warm, cozy, almost symphonic crescendo of a worthwhile trek atop a glorious peak while the sun goes down.

In totality, Flowers has been well worth the wait for one of the most prolific organ trios of the last quarter century. They have set a standard that only a short list of other musicians and outfits can measure up to. This is a record that shines a light on a unique bond between Krasno and the Evans brothers that is sure to please any long time or new listener of Soulive.

The band is slated for only a few select dates left in 2026, at the Ardmore Music Hall outside of Philadelphia, PA this April 24-25, so be sure to check them out while you can!

Upcoming Dates

April 24, 2026
Philadelphia Area, PA
Ardmore Music Hall

April 25, 2026
Philadelphia Area, PA
Ardmore Music Hall