Nightfall gets off to a funky start with Polyrhythmics

Usually, when two people say the same thing at the same time, tradition dictates one of them owes the other a can of Coke. Scaled up, then, the mental synchronization Grant Schroff and Ben Bloom experienced six years ago must be worth at least a 24-pack.

“We knew each other a little bit and had played some shows together in different bands, but we had the idea at the same time to start a large-format, dance-oriented, polyrhythmic funk band with influences from Afrobeat to world music and modern funk and, of course, American roots music,” Bloom says.

That two people should experience such a hyper-specific artistic vision simultaneously is rare enough. That they then chose to act on it is even less likely, but when Bloom and Schroff followed their mutual muse, the result was the band Polyrhythmics.

“In this particular case, whatever the spirit was that wanted this project to happen, it was in the air,” Bloom laughs. “It’s extremely serendipitous, and I think we’re both fortunate that we capitalized on that and followed through on it instead of just letting it be a fleeting thought in our heads.”

As per Bloom and Schroff’s vision, Polyrhythmics is an eight-member, purely instrumental ensemble who share a love of funk and jazz music rooted in melodic improvisation and deep, trance-like grooves.

Since its formation in 2010, the band has released five albums on a nearly annual schedule and has shared the stage with artists such as Allen Stone, String Cheese Incident, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Sam Bush.

Polyrhythmics is currently touring in support of its fourth studio album, “Octagon,” released in late 2015. Following several dates orbiting New Orleans’ Jazz & Heritage Festival in late April, the band is making its first determined foray into the Southeast, a touring leg that will include an appearance as the first headliner of this year’s Nightfall concert series on Friday, May 6.

Night after night, Bloom says, there are two types of people who provide the fuel that keeps the band’s members enthused and inspired through the long treks between cities.

First, he says, there are the unabashed revelers who fully give themselves over to the music. Then, there are the reluctant scrutinizers, the listeners who stand, arms folded, on the edges of the crowd and who need to be convinced of the band’s skill.

“Maybe they’re other musicians who are like, ‘Are you guys good? Is every player worth their salt?'” he says. “Watching them sort of melt into this acceptance and then completely overwhelming joy is something that really excites me. We like proving ourselves to people who have never heard us before.

“To me, that’s one of those reassuring reasons why we do all the things we do. What makes it worth it to tour with eight people? Those are the things that make it worth it.”

Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205. Follow him on Twitter at @PhillipsCTFP.