Rare Essence

Indispensable and inexhaustible go-go band Rare Essence have proudly represented Washington, D.C.'s indigenous funk subgenre -- built on fully energized marathon performances with tumbling, highly syncopated rhythms and animated call-and-response vocals -- since the late 1970s. From the early '80s through the latter half of the '90s, Rare Essence hit Billboard's main R&B chart with the singles "Body Moves," "Work the Walls," "Body Snatchers," and "Player Haters." Equally key to the band's legacy are numerous regional favorites and a high stack of live documents self-released t...