Biography
Fred Leslie’s Missing Link is an exciting retro-soul/funk project from Copenhagen, heavily influenced by classic 60s and 70s grooves. The band combines soul, funk, jazz, and Hammond organ sounds into a very warm, analog style. Their music feels like a loving homage to rare groove culture, but with a modern energy.
The formation of Fred Leslie’s Missing Link in 2008 was no accident, but rather the result of a small European soul-funk "supergroup."
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The musicians involved already knew each other from the contemporary Hammond soul scene, which was particularly active in Italy, Denmark, and the UK in the 2000s. Many had played in bands heavily influenced by 60s/70s soul, funk, and rare groove. The idea was:
"What if we combined the strongest elements of our bands and started a project dedicated entirely to the vintage soul sound?"
This led to the formation of a collective that didn't see itself as a traditional band, but rather as a group of Hammond funk specialists. The name "Missing Link" alludes to their desire to bridge the gap between classic soul and modern interpretations.
The band consists of members from three established soul/funk projects: Leslie Overdrive, Phat Fred, and The Link Quartet. Fred Leslie's Missing Link also frequently collaborates with various singers. Notable examples include Sophie Faricy and The Sweet Divines. What makes this project so special is that it's not a fixed band project, but rather a European soul collective. The musicians come from three countries and three bands, all known for their Hammond organ funk sound. The music is a mix of covers of classic soul songs and original arrangements. The sound is deliberately analog, warm, and retro, but with modern production.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.