On Tuesday 3rd February, Liverpool funk afficionados were treated to a very special showcase indeed thanks to the forwardthinking ParrJazz. The Liverpool jazz promoters hosted a quite incredible evening at the Philharmonic Music Room, as they brought 11 time Grammy winner Philip Lassiter to the city.
Lassiter has been knee-deep in the funk for decades. Best known as the horn arranger and section leader for Prince’s New Power Generation, he played a crucial role in shaping the sound of one of the most electrifying live bands in modern music. That legacy of bold brass lines, tight grooves and fearless creativity runs straight through everything Lassiter does today.
Across his career, Lassiter has performed at some of the world’s biggest festivals and collaborated with an extraordinary list of artists. His top-tier compositions and arrangements, driven by his virtuosic trumpet playing, have earned him gigs with Kirk Franklin, Ariana Grande, Timbaland, Kelly Rowland and many more. Whether on stage or in the studio, his musical authority and infectious energy are unmistakable.
The Tuesday evening began with local band, Bite, who have been gaining a strong following. The four young locals were seemingly unphased by supporting an international star of such acclaim and blew the audience away with their catchy rhythms and riffs. Blending classic and psych-rock with funk, they have a distinctive sound that’s both recognisable and unique — definitely ones to watch and this gig will have further enhanced their growing reputation.
I knew the main event, Philip Lassiter, was going to be an impressive show but I can honestly say this was one of the best gigs I’ve been to in the city! From start to finish, the 11 time Grammy winner brought all the funk and bags of fun and alongside his quintet he delivered a high energy performance that was, in every sense, off the scale! Incredibly, it was the first time he had performed with Menelik Claffey and Al Shaham — the two guitarists from London.
Wild and frenetic yet tight and controlled, it was a display of sheer musical genius. Philip orchestrated everything to a tee and the chemistry with his accompanying soul singer, Josephine Marie, was mesmerising — with his mischievous lyrics and rhymes working in harmony with her truly beautiful vocals and soul. Meanwhile, drummer Davy Andy kept the rhythm flowing alongside the frenzied keyboard and guitar solos.
This was more than a gig — it was an immersive experience. In between big hitting tracks from across his career, such as Simmer Down, Philip charmed and joked with the audience — telling us to feel free to dance in the seated venue and acknowledging that whilst it was the Philharmonic, he is also Phil Harmonic.
Indeed, it wasn’t long until many of us were up dancing and bopping to whatever genre this was — a mash up of funk, rap, gospel, soul and jazz all in one wild, loose yet tight and on point work of art. It was certainly clear to see why Prince himself carefully selected Lassiter as his trumpeter and horn arranger — the man is a genius!
A week later and I’m still trying to figure out what I experience but it was something truly special for sure. Huge kudos to Geni Lamb and ParrJazz for bringing this legend to our city in an intimate setting on a Tuesday night in early February. I always have such admiration for promoters like ParrJazz who put shows on like this not for financial gain but purely for the love of incredible music!
Philip Lassiter / The Philharmonic Music Room, Liverpool, L1 9BP / Tues 3rd Feb 2026
Images courtesy of Gary Dougherty Photography
