Essex Funk

Collective

Bringing you the best of Funk, Soul, and R&B!

We’re Essex Funk Collective — your local band with big soul. Born right here in South Orange and Maplewood, we bring together the sounds of funk, soul, and R&B that make people move. Our shows are all about good music, good energy, and good people.
From weddings to block parties, we’ll bring the soundtrack to your celebration — full of heart, groove, and pure funk.

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Book!

Save the Date:

Saturday,

February

28

Join us on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 7:00–11:00 PM at The Suite Spot in South Orange, NJ, for Isaiah House’s signature annual House of Love event! Celebrate an unforgettable evening filled with love, hope, and support for our mission. Mark your calendars and click the following links to purchase your tickets and sponsorships before they’re all sold out!

Feel free to reach out to Jacquona Blackwell at jblackwell@isaiahhouse.org for additional information.

Hope to see you there!

Purchase Tickets & Sponsorships
Past Events

The Collective

  • A woman smiling and waving at a microphone, with shoulder-length hair, in an indoor setting.

    Faith Taylor

    CO-FOUNDER | VOCALS

  • A man with glasses playing an electric guitar in a recording studio, wearing a black shirt with white text.

    Jonathan Glasser

    CO-FOUNDER | GUITAR

  • Black and white photo of a bald man with glasses and a goatee, looking at the camera indoors.

    Brian Swisher

    BASS

  • Young man singing into a microphone in a dimly lit indoor setting.

    Nigel Finley

    VOCALS

  • A man with glasses, a beanie, and a beard singing or speaking into a microphone outdoors, wearing a hoodie with a 'Fat Rich' logo, with a drummer playing in the background.

    Kenny Vaughan

    VOCALS

  • A man with a short haircut and mustache holding a small telescope-like musical instrument to his mouth in a room with framed pictures on the wall.

    Normie "Skip" Burns

    RAPPER | VOCALS

  • A smiling woman with curly hair sitting near a microphone, holding a phone in her lap, in a black-and-white indoor setting.

    Kiyomi Taylor

    VOCALS

  • A man wearing a baseball cap and a graphic t-shirt playing a keyboard in front of a decorative wall with floral patterns, in black and white.

    Lawrence Allen

    KEYS

  • Black and white photo of a man sitting at a drum set, holding drumsticks, with music equipment nearby, looking to his right and smiling.

    Steve Feldman

    DRUMS

  • David Shields

    David Shields

    Keys

Read Bios

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Close-up of a microphone on stage with colorful lights in the background, suggesting a live performance or event.