History
The band formed in 1998, when bassist, Chris Arenas, and drummer, Chris Spano, began performing with keyboardist, Matt Fleming. The trio enlisted DJ M3, the well-noted San Francisco house/hip-hop DJ (who now heads the SF-based record label Green Gorilla Lounge), and a host of Bay Area horn players. Throughout the late nineties, the group infiltrated the Bay Area's acid-jazz and hip-hop circuits, performing at parties such as Toph One’s, "The Funkside," and Mr. Brown’s, "Elephunk" and "Double Trouble". Raw Deluxe soon made their first trip to Europe, performing throughout the Eastern part of the continent during the summer of 1999.
In 2000, Raw Deluxe was voted "Best Jazz Band" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian's, "Best of the Bay". The band was also nominated for 2001 Best Music Act, on citysearch.com, alongside artists such as Green Day, Boz Scaggs, and Vinyl, where they were noted as "One of the best original acts currently in the Bay Area." The group was then nominated for the 2002 SF Weekly Music Awards, "Best Soul / Blues / Funk" category.
In July 2001, the group released the critically acclaimed EP, "Back to the Jungle," with the Reel Deal Music label. XLR8R magazine noted the CD as "Killer jazz-funk from this San Francisco outfit, complete with horns, wailing keys and tight rhythm. They've been quietly winning loyal fans for the past few years, and with these six original tracks it's easy to see why. Check 'em out." The single "Get Some" was also featured on the Subkoncious Records compilation, Elephunk / Live-N-Direct that year as well.
In October 2005, the band released their follow up album "Back By Popular Demand". During the course of the recording the band enlisted guest MC's Lexxx Luthor, CB, and Mic Blake of the seminal jazz/hip-hop group Alphabet Soup. By the release of the album the MC's became official members of Raw Deluxe due to Alphabet Soup's saxophonist Kenny Brooks and drummer Jay Lane's busy touring schedule with Bob Weir's band Ratdog.
Today the band is composed of Chris_Spano - drums, Chris_Arenas - bass, Matt_Fleming - electric piano/organ, Tony_Jurado - saxophone and features MC's Lexxx Luthor and Mic Blake of Alphabet Soup and Bop City and Soulati beatboxer/MC/Drummer from the Felonious crew. The group continues to perform regularly and has come from its underground status to playing both nationally and internationally with acts such as Too Short, Digital Underground, Olu Dara, and The Breakestra.
Members of Raw Deluxe are also featured in other side projects. Bassist Chris Arenas started the band New Libation Orchestra featuring Jeff Raines and Ben Ellman of the New Orleans funk band Galactic. He also performs with the legendary New Orleans guitarist Ernie Vincent, leader of the legendary 1970s funk band Ernie and the Top Notes. MC Mic Blake has another hip-hop group called Bop City Pacific based out of Oakland, CA. Lexxx Luthor also plays with CalmOdee a funk jazz hip hop band, which features members of Marin County Funk band Vinyl and Julian Summerhill of Slave and Pfunk fame.
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