DAB5

DAB5, has a sound best described as “a blend of R&B, funk, soul, and Jazz in one package.” with an added blues & country twang. A sound that takes rock rhythms and blends them with sweet funky soul. The guys have come to know this vibe as Hybrid-Soul, and were recently featured on the front page of Bandcamp weekly for its freshness. This band has been on the live scene consistently for over 4 years, and is still going strong.

Fronted by arranger, singer-songwriter, and amateur night Apollo winner, Darren Lightburn Jr. (Aka J.R Lightburn), and backbone drummer Brandan “Tightpocket” Burton. Their live show brings a new feel to the “head-nod” & groove factor.

The current touring band & extended family includes, Daniel Najaro, Steve Conroy, Dylan “Catfish Rhythm” Wheeler, Lilly Eri, and sometimes feature appearances by Philly Bada-Boom, Jasmine Mottley & Wyl White of Minor King, Elonda Vibez & Nicholas Desouza of Mizimu, Joe & Gerard Fee of the Scarecrow collection, and Rafael Joson of The Head Monsters.

In 2015 DAB5 proudly recorded and released a debut album called “Clarity” independently, and it is now currently available on Pandora Radio, Bandcamp, YouTube and Soundcloud. That same summer of 2015, DAB5 played the Soupergroove music festival, labeled “NJ’s party of the year” by Spike TV. They got to share the same stage as the amazing Turtle Soup, TM Stevens, Benard Purdie, Pink Talking Fish and many more.

They’ve also performed at The Bitter End, DROM for HOT 97, Mexicali Live, Santos Party House, The Shrine, Silvana, Black Bear Bar, The Crossroads, Caroline’s, the Delancey, The Lagosta Lounge, 10th Street Live, The BCNN, and have even been an opening act for national touring act Found Vegas. DAB5 has worked with GrowUP to perform at Funkadellic studios in support of legalization to oppose the incarceration of non-violent criminals, and have also worked with Gems N Pearls Productions for a cancer awareness variety show & fundraiser.

In 2016 JR Lightburn and DAB5 made appearances on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network for their first televised appearance on Verizon FIOS, & Time Warner cable, and again in 2017 to debut new material at the Soul Sessions.

Currently JR and Tightpocket are in the studio wrapping up a new album to follow up a live album they recorded at Black Bear Bar in Brooklyn. The single is soon to be released, as well as some visuals to accompany it. The goal is to move around the country and spread an infectious new groove.

Their list of influences credits all the greats before them like: Jill Scott, J. Dilla, D’angelo, Gary Clark Jr, The Roots, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Robert Glasper, Chris Dave & the Drumheadz, Parliment Funkadelic, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Grateful Dead, James Brown, John Mayer, the Black Keys, Al Green, John Legend, Curtis Mayfield, Donnie Hathaway, Lettauce, Alabama Shakes, and this list can go on.