The play on words in the name of the band may not be immediately obvious, but one listen to Pocket Protection’s first release will give listeners a hint. Combining George Gekas (the bassist of the Revivalists) and Alvin Ford Jr. (late of Dumpstaphunk and a drummer with a vast resume including stints with Bonerama and the nationally touring act Pretty Lights) as the rhythm section, the wordplay becomes more obvious. Protect the pocket—the musical pocket that is the foundation of funk.

Two lesser-known, but no less talented musicians round out the group. Guitarist Paul Provosty first came to the attention of my ears with the local band Earphunk. He has a stellar sound and his guitar work sounds delicious on the five songs of this EP.

Keyboardist Andriu Yanovski also has a vast resume including recording with Samantha Fish and playing with the Grammy Award-winning Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa. He adds a powerful touch to the tunes on this album, especially his tasty fills and strong soloing.

With the introductions completed, what about the music? This is instrumental funk of the highest order. The band, which came together at an impromptu gig at the Maple Leaf Bar in 2019, grooves so hard I wish I had been at that show. Once they took the music into the studio, the tunes solidified into an undeniably potent group sound.

The production allows each individual player to shine. Each instrument is clearly defined in the mix. But the songs are not simply jams—they crackle with personality and compositional skill. The songs may have whimsical titles like “Alvin S Camaro,” the opener, and “Paul P. Sure,” the closer, but they are nothing but serious.

Though the EP is relatively short, the music sounds like just a taste of much more to come.