Cymande Brings Renascence to the Varsity

Boasting one of the more influential catalogs of their era of funk (specifically the early 70’s), Cymande has long been a collector’s favorite. Last Wednesday night, the group returned to Minnesota for a concert celebrating Renascence, their first album in 51 (!) years. The record is a solid effort that sees Cymande updating their sound without abandoning its core features. Though it arrived a half-century after their initial run ended, Renascence maintains many musical throughlines from the band’s heyday. The show reflected as much, bridging the new Renascence material with many of the band’s 70’s classics.

The material, an enjoyable mix of Caribbean music, funk, and jazz, among other styles, had a free flowing, occasionally jammy feel. The groove was often easy, but the band and the music were engaging throughout. With a full horn section in tow, Cymande had a big sound that kept the audience grooving, whether playing through hits like “Dove” or the newer fare.

A band that has been sampled in hip-hop, and quoted in funk as often as anybody, Cymande has a deep and profound musical legacy that was on full display at the Varsity show. Hearing them play live provided insight into why and how that legacy came to be.