Capri

The Leeds, U.K., ensemble Capri adopted the term "cop funk" for their style upon forming in 1996, drawing initial inspiration from composers Roy Budd and Quincy Jones as well as the soundtracks to Bullitt and Dirty Harry. Core members Chris Donnelly and Daniel Woodward later immersed themselves further in '70s soul and funk, absorbing the work of James Brown, Donald Byrd, Azymuth, and Roy Ayers. The group's output began as purely instrumental until the arrival of vocalist John McCallum, whose approach recalled Stevie Wonder. McCallum remained through an expansion to 11 members and repeated U.K. performances before departing in 1999; Benson Walker stepped in as his replacement. Walker featured on the 1999 Earth Songs EP, which also marked the launch of the band's Groove Laboratory Productions imprint. Capri issued their first full-length album, the hip-shaking Boogie Man, in 2002, highlighted by the single "Barbarella." Outside their roles in the band and the label, Walker and Woodward serve as hosts of the popular GLP Sessions program on Internet radio outlet Jazz Syndicate Radio.