The Time Band Thanks Sweetwater Fans After Inaugural Funk MasterClass
Monte Moir, Ricky Freeze Smith and crew ignite funk at Sweetwater—more classes ahead soon!
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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The Time Band Celebrates Sweetwater Debut
JMTF The Time Band, featuring funk pioneers Monte Moir, Garry Johnson, Tori Ruffin and bassist Ricky Freeze Smith, took to the Sweetwater stage in Fort Wayne, Indiana this week for their first ever MasterClass. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the collective wrote, “Thank you Sweetwater 4 all the💜 We are excited and looking forward to many more!”
Legends Of Funk Unite
Monte Moir, the keyboardist and songwriter best known for his work with The Time and production credits on Janet Jackson’s Control, joined forces with fellow Minneapolis sound veteran Garry Johnson, guitarist Tori Ruffin and longtime bassist Ricky Freeze Smith—whose credits include collaborations with The Commodores and Cheryl Lynn. Their Sweetwater appearance marked the first public event under the JMTF The Time Band banner, blending performance, technique demos and Q&A sessions.
In an earlier Instagram update ahead of the event, the group shared a rehearsal snapshot with the caption: “Rehearsal Today Masterclass Tomorrow! JMTF The Time Band.” The following day, excitement peaked when they announced, “Locked, loaded, and firing from all cylinders!” alongside a candid backstage image of the quartet tuning up.
From Rehearsal To Masterclass
The weekend kicked off with a sold-out “Funk MasterClass” on May 22, 2025, at Sweetwater’s state-of-the-art facility. Attendees were treated to a mix of live performance excerpts, deep dives into signature grooves and hands-on technique breakdowns. Topics ranged from Monte Moir’s distinct chord voicings to Ricky Freeze Smith’s punchy slap bass lines.
An Instagram teaser posted days earlier read, “The MasterClass Commences Tomorrow! This inaugural funk class at Sweetwater marks the beginning of a series… We Look Forward to Seeing You There!” Designed graphics credited to Chelsea Fisher underlined the event’s professional polish.
Audience Reaction And Future Plans
Fans responded with enthusiasm, posting clips of Monte Moir demonstrating his famous synth riff from “Jungle Love” and Smith guiding students through low-end syncopation exercises. One attendee commented, “Never thought I’d learn bass slapping from a legend—absolutely life-changing.”
In their thank-you message, the band signaled more events to come, suggesting Sweetwater will host additional MasterClasses featuring different members of the ensemble. Monte Moir hinted at future sessions focusing on songwriting and production, while Smith teased advanced rhythm workshops.
Together, these four artists have kept the Minneapolis sound alive—and now they’re passing it on to a new generation of funk aficionados. With the Sweetwater debut behind them and plans for further classes on the horizon, JMTF The Time Band has solidified its mission: educate, inspire and keep funk’s legacy rolling.
As the curtain closed on this inaugural event, one thing was clear: both veterans and newcomers walked away pumped, armed with fresh skills and a deeper appreciation for the grooves that helped define an era. The band’s promise of “many more” has funk fans everywhere already marking their calendars for the next chapter.
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