Ultra Van Krome kicks it with his road dogPortland’s own Ultra Van Krome has just released a fantastic new album called Cyber Funkist and below are two choice cuts from that very same work. The album has eight songs and they’re all spectacular, definitely worth purchasing, if you can find it anywhere.
Ultra Van Krome aka Stevie Ray Mays is a musician, comedian, classic car enthusiast and a longtime friend of East Portland blog. He’s related to Willie Mays and he was named for Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. His musical influences range from Coltrane and Monk to Bootsy Collins and George Clinton to Jimi Hendrix and Joni Mitchell (“OMG! Joni Mitchell,” he has said, “is the Salvador Dali of Acoustic feelings.., She makes me weak… Her words are tender as tissue… Her Voice is Like your favorite Dessert… I LOVE HER SO!”).
Mays is also one of my friends from Radio Cab. When we were both lease drivers we’d have to line up at 4 in the morning and wait for a cab. We became fast friends, as he’s an incredibly funny guy. One day I brought up Stevie Wonder’s backing band during the “Superstition” era as one of the greatest combos of all time and he was able to immediately name all the players. I knew right away that we’d get along.
George Clinton and Ultra Van KromeUltra Van Krome attended a recent in-store signing event with George Clinton. He brought along a copy of Cyber Funkist to share with the great one. Here is how some of the conversation went:
GC: People here are ready for the funk? I’m gonna spin this here… it better be the shit, Krome!
GC: You from Detroit? UVK: Nope, right here! But I am a disciple. GC: This gotta be Funky! Check you out!
UVK: You know we gonna kick this? GC: I hope you do.
