JMTF The Time Band’s Funk Masterclass at Sweetwater
Ricky Freeze Smith and funk legends Monte Moir team up for an immersive Sweetwater session
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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Rehearsal Today, Masterclass Tomorrow
JMTF The Time Band is turning the dial up on funk this week at Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, Indiana. On May 21, 2025, the crew—including bandmate and bassist Ricky Freeze Smith—ran through final rehearsals, teasing the launch of a two-day funk masterclass kicking off May 22. Smith’s Instagram caption, “Rehearsal Today Masterclass Tomorrow! JMTF The Time Band,” set the tone for what promises to be a deep dive into the groove.
Immersive Funk Timeline
The band’s Instagram feed has tracked this buildup over the past fortnight. One early post flagged the inaugural funk class: “The Funk MasterClass Commences Tomorrow! This inaugural funk class at Sweetwater marks the beginning of a series… JMTF The Time Band,” designed by Chelsea Fisher. Subsequent updates counted down the days, pumped up the energy (“Locked, loaded, and firing from all cylinders!”) and confirmed their arrival: “We are here Sweetwater Fort Wayne, Indiana. JMTF The Time Band.” By May 19, a reminder popped up that “The MasterClass starts in 3 Days! You really don’t wanna miss this history in the making. JMTF The Time Band.”
On May 20, a visual from their Sweetwater rehearsal surfaced on Smith’s Instagram feed, capturing the band clustered around amps, cables, keyboards and drum kits. The snapshot offered a sneak peek at Monte Moir leading a segment on funk chord voicings, as Garry Johnson and Tori Ruffin locked into pocket grooves. A simple caption read, “Rehearsal Today Masterclass Tomorrow! JMTF The Time Band.”
Band Lineup & Highlights
The Time Band’s lineup brings together seasoned session players and funk veterans. Monte Moir, known for his songwriting with The Time and Janet Jackson, anchors the masterclass with theory and production tips. Alongside him, multi-instrumentalist Garry Johnson drills down on bass lines and rhythmic interplay. Keyboardist Tori Ruffin and drummer Ricky Freeze Smith round out the rhythm section, showcasing syncopated beats and horn arrangements. Together, they’ll cover topics from live arrangements and studio techniques to improvisation and stage presence.
A separate post teased “JMTF The Time Band Funk Sprinter! Thank you Sweetwater 4 the ❤️ We’re here and excited to make history with U!” That enthusiasm spills into the classroom portion at Sweetwater’s demo rooms, where attendees can plug in and play along with the pros.
Ricky Freeze Smith also shared a behind-the-scenes moment with his wife, Tania Mistre e Smith, celebrating their sold-out opening night at Pala Casino Spa Resort with Morris Day and Sheila E. The mix of performance and pedagogy underscores how the Time Band blends showmanship with hands-on coaching.
What Attendees Can Expect
According to the event page, participants will rotate through breakout sessions led by each band member. Moir’s theory workshop promises to unpack classic funk progressions, while Johnson’s groove labs focus on call-and-response techniques. Ruffin and Smith host rhythm clinics for drummers and keyboardists, demonstrating how to lock the pocket in a live setting. Sweetwater’s on-site gear rooms will showcase signature instruments and vintage synths used by the band.
Earlier posts highlighted ticketing details on Universe: “THE COUNT DOWN… JMTF The Time Band MasterClass May 22, 2025 Sweetwater https://www.universe.com/events/the-time-band-masterclass-with-monte-moir-tickets-95HX2G.” With capacity capped at 100 participants per day, tickets sold out within hours after the final rehearsal teaser went live.
By day two, the masterclass shifts to a live jam session, where students join onstage for a full band performance. A final Instagram update read, “JMTF Funk Masterclass! You will leave this class with more than you came in with… FUNK! @sweetwatersound.”
Drawing on decades of funk lineage—from Prince to Parliament-Funkadelic—the Time Band’s event blends music history, technical insight and performance flair. Sweetwater’s professional recording studios will also record highlight reels for participants to review later.
As May 22 dawns, Sweetwater’s demo rooms, control booths and performance stage stand ready. Whether you’re a bassist chasing that one-pocket groove or a keyboardist seeking classic electric piano tones, JMTF The Time Band’s two-day immersion offers a backstage pass to funk mastery.
From rehearsal snapshots to packed classroom sessions, Ricky Freeze Smith and his bandmates are set to deliver a hands-on celebration of rhythm, soul and stagecraft at Sweetwater.
An intimate group of aspiring musicians will leave armed not just with riffs and licks, but the confidence to bring funk into their own projects—proof that the groove never stops at JMTF The Time Band’s masterclass.
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