Who's here after hearing about the passing of Tim Akers? He was gifted.💛

Yep. After this, no one else should touch this song.

8 years and still one of the best arrangements/performances ever bar none

The tightest, funkiest groove that you will hear ANYWHERE online. And that bass player?? Amazing.

I'm a sax player and arranger I can't help but chip in to say how disgustingly good this is and that I cannot stop listening to it. Thank you for your work on this, you guys are phenomenal.

Anyone who considers themselves a musician, should listen to this and see what true musicality and creativity mean. ...I'm speechless ! AWESOME

I heard that Bruno Mars made a cover of this.

I’am 67, listening to this makes me feel 66 !!! 🕺

2024 and this is still my benchmark for what a cover should be.

The band is made up of some of the best session guys in Nashville. We are 16-strong when we play live, but due to budget restrictions the video features a scaled down version of the band: Leader/arranger/keys- Tim Akers Drums- John Hammond Bass- Gary Lunn Guitar- Mark Baldwin Trumpets- Steve Patrick Saxes- Mark Douthit Trombone- Barry Green Lead vocals- Joey Richey Backgrounds: Kim Fleming, Kim Keyes, Gene Miller Mixed by Doug Sarrett

This song should called as "if uptown funk was really a funk song" :v

Holy Crap!!! This This THIS T-H-I-S is unreal. I'm a jazz pianist/vocalist & Arranger. You all made me cry. Perfect, fantastic...I am SO impressed. Beautifully done. THIS is how is should be played!! LOL Thank you Bless you all !!!!!

This is by far the best cover of a modern pop tune i've heard in years... It would be an absolute pleasure to experience your band live, or even better to work with you guys... You are keeping REAL music alive, all the thumbs up and respect to you and your team.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' BOUT!!!!!!! Pocket groove, killer horns, rhythm AND vocals. Proof that a great horn chart just lifts the whole thing higher.

RIP Tim. You will be sorely missed.

Wow! From a trumpet player in Portland Oregon. NICE arrangement!

I watch this video at least 3 times every day. I love this arrangement. Simply amazing

Release an album and take my money. Please.

The horn section..... The bass player... The drummer.... Love it !

I never stop being amazed at the amazing level of play in this group. Most session players/singers are amazing, but these guys are, well, they make it look easy. Every single one of the players and singers here is simply at the top of their game. Notice how the horn players just bring it, the drummer is out of this world, the singers are spot on, the guitarist is funk wonderful, the bass is superb, and the keys are in the pocket and perfect. I hope to catch the big band someday!

*Killing version of Uptown Funk. This smokes the (excellent) original version IMO.*

Here it is years later and I am still watching and loving this performance. I rarely use the term "Nailed It", but these guys Most Definitely "Nailed It!". I'm a bass guitar player and normally focus on the bass guitar. My definition of "Nailed It" is when a performance has me focusing on every player and every vocalist, as this performance does.

Well... I've listened to this about 30 times now... since yesterday.

Whenever I need my ass kicked I come back here. Never gets old. Sometimes brings tears to my eyes. Near perfect arrangement and performance. The quote, "Before Pro Tools there were Pro's." fits absolutely here. Thank you all for a true classic. ...More than just 8 months old ...

Still, wow, just WOW... Every time I watch/listen to this, I hear something else, a line, a timbre, a nuance.... WOW... Leave this up, forever.... please..

Horn players are: Barry Green-Trombone Mark Douthit-Sax Steve Patrick-Trumpet

Probably the best recording of Uptown ive ever heard!

I absolutely love this arrangement.

I swear I love this version better than the first rendition.This band needs to be signed to a major record label. Man people do not appreciate the time and effort a band puts in to make a classic cover. I mean the singers are great and I especially love the horn section. There is a difference in knowing how to play an instrument then to know how to play an instrument with emotion and character. These guys got it. I swear if I lived in there area, I will come to every show!!!! You guys are my new favorite band!!!!!

THIS is how this song should have been done originally. It highlights excellent musicianship all over the place. No pitch shifting or computers needed, or wanted. Just all humans making music. Awesome.

The last 2 minutes of this is beyond incredible. Everybody is just laying it out there.

After hearing this!! Ronson's version is a nursery rhyme!!!!

This is the kind of "good" that makes you want to throw things in disbelief. I mean... that was unreal. So great to see all the great talent that I've been seeing in liner notes for the last 30 years. Incredible. (Special shout out to John Eric Hammond who is just an absolute beast no matter what he's playing. Whether it's The Smoking Section or Dogs of Peace and everything in between, this guy is just unreal.)

WOW! Speaking as an old dude myself - Old Dudes Got It Goin' On! Nice - Been playing this over and over all day! More Please!

I'll just mention it because it doesn't seem like anyone has so far, but these cats are reading charts, and this is is just so kicking tight!

I'm a bass player, cant't tell you how mush I love the bass player, the sound is fucking unbelievable

Who in its right mind would even THINK of disliking this thing??? It's my third time in a row that I listen to this. It's amazing, I feel like playing now... :)

Quite possibly the coolest thing I've heard this year. Can't stop grinning! :D

Whoever thumbs-downed this song doesn't know a single thing about music!

Beautiful. Real Music is NOT dead. Thank you guys. Awesome. The industry has changed so much. But QUALITY Never goes out of style. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for posting. You've got a new fan for sure.

SMOKIN is an UNDERstatement. Love this! Listened to it 5 times in a row. This is an amazing rendition with unbelievable chord exchanges. The brass section is simply... Shiny! Thank you all! WHAT"S NEXT?

Bass player (Gary) kill'n!!!!

Chills!! Chills again!! Click thumbs up if you got the chills listening to this tune! Excellent work Tim and da SS.

Can never get enough of this. Perfection.

The horn chart sounds like Jerry Hey arranging to me. Whoever did it, it's awesome!

OMG! This blows the original right out of the water! really good old school sound of funk and soul. This just made my day and weekend! will be sharing this with everyone i can. Nashville has thee best musicians period. I hope you come to cleveland, i'll drop some money to see you live!

Elders rock better , like wine .

Just found this....absolutely awesome playing /vocals and outstanding arrangement! Love it...

This cover is absolutely sick, in the best way. Exceptional arrangement!

Great arrangement performed by some seriously musical genius dude types 👍👍👍

This just kills... every musician included here is a master of their respective instrument. We need a lot more of this!!!

OMFG! That was the most amazing display of talent, musicianship and clever arranging I think I have ever seen.

This just blew my mind! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G arrangement...well done!

Real musicians ladies and gentlemen.

impressive groove and a terrific orchestration with five stars sound ... what else you need to love this arrangement!!

Absolutely brilliant version! Fabulous musos. Can't get enough of it!

Dang, that drummer can change shirts faster than anybody.

killer playing and outstanding arrangement!

SO LOVE this band and the individual long histories with so many of the players and singers!!! Wish I was singing with you guys!!! Tim you amaze me!!!

That bass rundown gives me butterflies

Absolutely sensational on every level. Awesome musicians and what an amazing arrangement, very soulful!

WOW! What an incredible arrangement and stellar musicianship.

Shit, fantastic!!! Earth wind & fire and Toto together..... GREAT!!!

Best version available! I could listen to this on repeat for days. So cool!

DAMN! Thats SOME SIZZLIN' HORNS! AMAZNG!

The playing is completely killer, the arrangement is OUT OF THIS WORLD! I've already listened to this 3 times, and I'm loving every bit of it! Thank you for this excellent post of an already cool song, pumped up to the 16th power of cool! AWESOME!

I just died and went to Music Groove Heaven. Thank you! Cheers from South Africa!

Had no idea this song had so many amazing interesting chords and chord progressions. Just amazing. And, these musicians are unbelievable.

That last solo obligato soprano goes way "Gospel" Love it

Absolutely killing. Nice to know my generation is still leading the way and making great music. You guys are just way too hip for the room)) meant in the nicest way possible!)

Love this version! So glad I happened to find this.

The last minute of this video still gives me chills even though I've watched it a few dozen times over a few years. Fantastic reharmonizations. ""Smoking" is the right name for this band.

Damn! Good stuff! Some Awesome Bass playing.

I LOOOOOOOVE THIS VERSION!!! HAVE MERCY!

INSANELY good. Damn....what brass...keys, bass...arrangement is just sick...pure brilliance!

Love this song. Stumbled across this version. Bass player, stellar! Drummer, ouch! Rhythm section is superb ! Love the key change at the end. Back up vocals...wow! The woman hitting high A# sooooo cool! Horns...cheeses rice. Thumbs up to all I didn't mention. The arrangement....so jazz;y cool! Can't stop listening to this. Kudos to the producer! HOT DAMN!! Smoking!

To all 15 of you that want to see Bruno Mars dance around in a cute video and disliked this video...Listen to the music. There is amazing depth to this arrangement. This is the difference. These are the best in Nashville. Nashville is not just Country. This is Music City. This comes from a sax player in Chicago.

YEAH GUYS! Hey Marc Ronson, are you listening?? THIS is how you do it son! You took Marc to GRADUATE school! Beyond awesome job!!

I don't think mere words can adequately describe just how skillful these musicians perform. I thoroughly enjoy listening to them!

I keep coming back to this track. Tim and the Smoking Section are hot.

Holy smokes! Stumbled over your version and such a version it is!!! I'm definitely on the fan list after this!! Best regards and Merry Christmas in advance from Sweden

Tim and crew, That IS as good as it gets! MORE!!!! Sending this link to the "Lettuce" guys. My son Erick is the bass player.

listened to you loads of times - really brilliant groove, arrangement and performing - thank you

You gentlemen & ladies are incredible! Lov'in it!

Something tells me this bassist is a beast...A shout out to Jake Kot. This fusion jazz reminds me of his licks.

I'm embarrassed to admit I just discovered you! I absolutely love your dense arrangements and the musicianship. This is the future of Funk Jazz! Best Regards and please keep funking!

Brilliant playing on the back of the beat awesome arrangement ! LOVE IT!

Just found this, Terrific! feel that groove man!

Damn!!! LOVE IT!!!! ... the arrangements, the harmony, groove...everything! Congrats y'all

The new Muscle Shoals Sound and the Wrecking crew together! Top!

so great ! everybody, musicians & singers, arrangement, sound ... awesome! thank you!

I love this! I gotta see these guys live! The arrangement is unbelievably great! Thanks for making my day!

Sicker than SICK!

When real musicians play.

The best use of a house or office space I've ever seen!

Nice arrangement, great sound mix and fantastic musicianship. That horn section is razor fire!

awesome how John Hammond changed shirts while playing⚡⚡

God this bassist makes me feel so bad about myself as a musician.

best rendition I've heard so far. brings a maturity to this sometime juvenile funk. the hidden jazz version. beautiful!!

Just absolutely outstanding! How could 440 people possible click "dislike"?...apparently, they do not have the mental capacity to appreciate the brilliance of this arrangement and playing.