New York City retro-funk combo
the Sugarman 3 were formed by saxophonist
Neal Sugarman in the spring of 1996 following his return from New Orleans, where he backed artists including
Eddie Henderson and
Mike Longo. Teaming with organist
Adam Scone (a one-time protégé of
Ben Dixon) and longtime
Brother Jack McDuff drummer Rudy Albin, the trio -- inspired by the vintage jazz-funk sounds of the '60s -- quickly emerged as a club favorite, and with guitarist Coleman Mellett,
the Sugarman 3 recorded their 1998 Desco label debut Sugar's Boogaloo. A single, "Cherry Pickin'," preceded the release of the combo's second album, Soul Donkey. Sweet Spot, a compilation of the previous two albums, appeared in spring 2001. That fall the band met with former Desco Records owner
Gabriel Roth and producer
Bosco Mann to form Daptone Records, the label that would reflect their interests and act as a platform for
Sugarman 3 albums. The first of these projects appeared in the summer of 2002, when
Sugarman 3's
Pure Can Sugar arrived in stores. In the ensuing decade, the band's members were busy with various side projects (most notably
Sugarman who is also a member of the Dap-Kings and has toured with everyone from
Amy Winehouse to
Eric Clapton). They released only three singles -- all of which were collaborations with vintage soul man
Lee Fields.
Sugarman 3 finally returned to active recording on their own in 2012 with the release of
What the World Needs Now. ~ Jason Ankeny