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How Now Brown Cow

Featuring the dynamic rhythm section of long time bandmates as well as founding member Dave Kurtiak on bass and Donovan Pfeifer on drums with the ear-catching Kerry O'Connor on fender rhodes and keyboards and frequest collaborator Brad Schrandt on Sax and flute. Playing their signature funk and jazz fueled all improvised original instrumental music, How Now Brown Cow bring a mix of creativity, talent and musicality that has made them known throughout the Seattle music community. Their spontaneous compositions are kin to the sounds and stylings of vintage groups like The Brand New Heavies, Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters, Average White Band, Tower of Power and The Meters as well as more modern groups such as Scary Pockets, Vulfpeck, Galactic and Medeski, Martin and Wood.

How Now Brown Cow: Don't Drink the Milk - It's Spoiled

Read "Don't Drink the Milk - It's Spoiled" reviewed by Don Ball

by Don Ball
May 27, 2026

Instrumental funk/soul bands are often spurned by the jazz aficionados as less serious than “real" jazz bands, but that would be a mistake with How Now Brown Cow. Despite the playfulness of the band name and song titles, in addition to having a great deal of fun playing, they are serious musicians and this is seriously good music. How Now Brown Cow has played in the Seattle , Washington community for more than a decade, often as a ...

"How Now Brown Cow sounds like Coltrane playing the theme song to CHiPs, mixing high art with '70s camp. Throw in tasty samples and some cowbell, and, boy, you're cooking up a party. Bowmp chicka bowmp bow." - The Weekly Volcano