Family Company: West Coast Cool

In the 1950s, Chet Baker and Dave Brubeck made cool West Coast jazz from LA. If there is a band in 2026 that can also claim the title of cool West Coast, but in the funk and soul genre, it is without a doubt Family Company. The regularity with which the band from LA releases excellent albums is reminiscent of the heyday of jazz, when artists came up with one sublime album after another. For instance, less than a year ago, Family Company released the album Pieces of Us with Grammy award winning soul singer Sam Pounds. Several songs appeared online with MacKenzie and others. Last month the album In & Out came out, with eight laidback instrumental tracks full of groovy horn parts. This week Jonah Smith released the album Satisfied that he wrote and recorded with Family Company (with contributions of Eric Krasno and Larry Goldings). And to think that band members Alex Kyhn (bass), Josh Teitelbaum (drums), and Jason Goldstein (keyboards) are already incredibly busy as sought-after session musicians in Los Angeles. What's even more cool, is that the band was nevertheless so kind to make time for The New Funky to answer a few questions we had for them about their music.

TNF: Are there plans to release another vinyl album like you did with Sam Pounds last year?

"Absolutely. We love vinyl and think our music lends itself to being experienced that way. There's just something about putting on a record and listening from beginning to end that fits what we're trying to create."

TNF: Do you think the recording process of Pieces of Us on tape with one mic captures soul music the best way, or does it depend? Did you follow the same or a different recipe for Satisfied?

"For us, it's less about following a formula and more about serving the songs. Pieces of Us was an experiment in capturing a moment with as little interference as possible, and that approach gave the record a warmth and honesty we still love.

Satisfied took a different path. We still wanted it to feel human and organic, but we weren't trying to recreate the same recording process. Every record should have its own personality. The common thread is that we try to preserve the feel of musicians playing together rather than chasing perfection."

TNF: As session musicians in Los Angeles, can you recommend some new and upcoming local funk and soul acts?

"There are so many incredible musicians in LA. We'd encourage people to check out artists like Astyn Turr, Judith Hill, Charles Jones, Matthew Grant, MacKenzie, India Carney, etc. etc. etc.  Truly too many to name. They're all doing their own thing while keeping soul music alive in fresh and authentic ways. More than anything, we'd encourage people to go hear live music."

TNF: How do you pick the occasional live performances you do, like the ones you did recently in Quinzy California and Happy Valley Oregon?

"Because all three of us have careers outside of Family Company, we have to be intentional about the shows we accept. We tend to say yes to festivals and events that value musicianship and community over just another gig. High Sierra and Pickathon are perfect examples. They're places where people really come to listen, connect, and discover music, and that's exactly the kind of audience we enjoy playing for."

TNF: Your website banner says "hand-made." What is your opinion on AI in the music business?

"Like any tool, it depends on how it's used. For us, "hand-made" means the heart of the music is created by people playing instruments together, writing songs from real experiences, and leaving room for imperfections. That's where the magic is.

AI cannot replace the chemistry that happens when musicians create something together in a room, which is something we're committed to protecting."

Tracks of In & Out, Pieces of Us and Satified are part of The New Funky Spotify lists. Once we get hold of any of their vinyl albums, we will provide them in The New Funky Vinyl shop.