Deep Groove Encyclopedia

Manzel

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Click below for a Manzel sample:

Revered for the classic breaks "Space Funk" and "Midnight's Theme," Manzel Bush is a keyboardist from Kentucky. When originally released on the tiny Fraternity label, "Space Funk" was not a commercial success, but it became an underground cult classic, eventually earning legendary status in the funk and burgeoning hip-hop communities.

"Midnight's Theme" was the final record from Manzel before he joined the military, where he is currently an Lieutenant Colonel. In 2003, Kenny Dope of the Masters At Work managed to locate Bush and released a record called "It's Over Now" that marks the first Manzel material in nearly 25 years.

Manzel's Deepest Grooves

"Space Funk" / "Jump Street" (Fraternity, 1977)

"Midnight's Theme" (Fraternity, 1978)

"It's Over Now" (Dopebrother, 2003)

Midnight Theme (Dopebrother, 2004)
While remixing the master tapes for "Midnight's Theme" and "Space Funk" for the 12-inch reissue, Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and Victor "Undercover Brother" Piagneri came across several more unreleased tracks that had been untouched for over 20 years. Midnight Theme is a collection of everything Manzel recorded, with subtle remixes that bring the beats and keys to the fore. Essential for break fanatics, as there are some (as yet) unused samples throughout the disc.