The Sugarman 3

New York City retro-funk combo the Sugarman 3 came together in spring 1996 when saxophonist Neal Sugarman returned from New Orleans, where he had supported Eddie Henderson and Mike Longo among others. Joining forces with organist Adam Scone, once a protégé of Ben Dixon, and longtime Brother Jack McDuff drummer Rudy Albin, the trio drew inspiration from the jazz-funk sounds of the 1960s and soon became a regular club attraction. Adding guitarist Coleman Mellett, they issued their Desco label debut Sugar's Boogaloo in 1998. The single "Cherry Pickin'" came out ahead of the follow-up album Soul Donkey. Spring 2001 brought Sweet Spot, a compilation drawn from those first two records. Later that year the group conferred with former Desco Records owner Gabriel Roth and producer Bosco Mann to establish Daptone Records, a new imprint aligned with their tastes that would serve as the outlet for subsequent Sugarman 3 releases. Their first project on the label, Pure Can Sugar, reached stores in summer 2002. Over the next ten years the musicians pursued numerous side projects, most prominently Neal Sugarman’s work with the Dap-Kings and his tours alongside artists ranging from Amy Winehouse to Eric Clapton. During this period the band issued just three singles, each a collaboration with vintage soul man Lee Fields. Not until 2012 did Sugarman 3 resume recording under their own name, delivering the album What the World Needs Now.