A retro-toned combo traversing a number of different styles including psychedelia, jazz, soul, R&B, and Latin, Ghost Funk Orchestra emerged out of New York in the late 2010s under the leadership of producer/arranger Seth Applebaum. Initially an experimental recording project, Applebaum slowly built his endeavor into a dynamic live group supporting a series of small releases before making their label debut with 2019's A Song for Paul. Known for his work with bands like the Mad Doctors and Mom Jeans, Applebaum began Ghost Funk Orchestra as a personal side project, alternately playing all of the instruments himself and borrowing musicians from various New York bands to capture the gritty, heavily reverbed mood-funk of early releases like 2014's The Haunt and 2016's Night Walker. The project grew into a live band the following year with a series of shows in New York and the vibey, self-released Something Evil. By this point, their sound had evolved to include a series of female vocalists and a horn section. After signing with Colemine Records' Karma Chief imprint, Ghost Funk Orchestra made their full-length label debut with 2019's A Song for Paul. An Ode to Escapism arrived in November 2020 and featured guest appearances by Julian Applebaum, Kam Franklin, and Sean Pastorok.
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