Funk You

The Blackbyrds - Greatest Hits

The Blackbyrds were formed in 1973 by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd. Their debut album is supposedly the effort of six Howard University students under the tutelage of Byrd, who at the time was department head. This band whose 10 year existence kicked out tunes like "Walking in Rhythm," "Rock Creek Park," and "Happy Music", was rooted in jazz-funk with a heavy dose of R&B. Their greatest hits album takes the best tracks from their seven albums. The end result is a fusiony & funked up mix of really eclectic tracks played on many a dance floor.

Texas Funk

I previously posted a review of Midwest Funk for which I gave a glowing review. Because of this I owed it to myself to get Texas Funk so I kicked down $26.99 and made the purchase. I can assuredly say that I do not have buyers remorse for doing so as this album also delivered the goods.

What did I get for my purchase you ask? 21 super rare and previously unreleased tracks from 1968-1974, tracked down via the labels, studios, producers and the artists themselves. The guys at Jazzman have done it again. These guys have real passion for the genre and it shows. The liner notes are excellent, as they are filled with great photos, the story of their journey to find these great 45s, the history of Texas and the musicians that laid down the funk way back when.

The album is packed with 21 tracks so sweet, they'd make a snickers bar jealous. The album is filled with lots of wah wah guitar and horns. Most of the songs are instrumentals but there are quite a few ones with vocals. These ones stand out in my mind as the lyrics are just great.

All in all, I gotta give props to Jazzman for their effort here. They've done funk a good service by bringing to light some to artists that tried hard but never made it. Check them out as they have all kinds of other rare treats on their website.

Hey, Hey, Hey, it's Faaaaat Albert!

I stumbled onto a couple albums recently that deserve some serious attention. The first one is "The Original Jam Sesssions 1969" by Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby. It was just released in June features some lost tracks from the original Fat Albert Show. The Second album is Fat Albert Rotunda by Herbie Hancock. This 2001 album is reissue of 1969 album, remastered from the original analogue tapes. You can only find it as an import these days.

The "Jam Sessions" CD has a cavalcade of great artists adding to the mix. From Jimmy Smith to Milt Jackson to Eddie Harris. The album is a little less funky than the Rotunda album but still offers some solid soul based jazz. It's amazing that a TV show could inspire so many to come up with these great tracks.

Fat Albert Rotunda has some deliciously funky tracks on it that are lit with fire. "Wiggle Waggle" is one of my favorites. With Herbie on the Fender Rhodes keyboard, this album turned out to be one of his first albums that are laden with the essence of funk. It has been much overlooked in the history of Herbie and deserves much more recognition that it has received.

George Benson - Talkin' Verve

When I think of industry stalwarts George Benson comes to mind. Man, this guy has been around forever. Back in the day his boogaloo guitar style was the essence of funk. When you can take any song and make it your own, you've reached a zone that many can only hope to achive.

This album starts out with a couple greasy groovy tunes, "Sunny" and "Song for My Father". The fast pickin' of Benson's guitar shines like a sunbeam through the clouds on these tracks. Then we're on to "That Lucky Old Sun" which is more gospel sounding in nature. Not my favorite but not bad. Now were onto "Some of My Best Friends Are Blues". This live recording features Jimmy Smith on the B3. Its slow and bluesy as you would expect.

The Very Best of Booker T. & the MG's

Booker T. & the MG's were a band comprised of two blacks and two whites. Together they broke down barriers and showed how both black and white musicians could play funky soul music with the tightest of grooves. Most of the songs on this album are short, all are sub 4 mins, and pretty much all are classics that you've heard at some point. They all get to the point quick as they all dive right into their funky soul grooves from the git go. "Green Onions" is unmistakably one of their most notable hits. It's fulla soulful guitar licks that compliment the driving organ sound of this song. You've undoubtedly heard it before unless you lived under a rock.

Midwest Funk

Ohhhhh man! I gotta say, when I hear a songs like these with such a funky beats I just wish I were around to enjoy this music live back when it was being created. This album follows the previously released Texas Funk (which I'll be getting promptly) out on Jazzman records located in the UK. Midwest Funk is an additional collection of rare, collectible and previously-unreleased funk 45s!

Supposidly a couple of music collectors drove 1000s of miles across 12 states within America's Midwest region which covers the Rockies in the West and the Appalachians in the East to search for some lost funk treasures. The fruit of these guys labor was super rare funk 45s and some unreleased master tapes totaling 23 songs. When I say rare, I mean rare…..like finding dinasour bones. These tracks should be put in a time capsule so that...

Jimmy Smith - Root Down

So we can all pretty much agree that the Beastie Boys have solidified their place in the annals of musical history. Their tribute to Jimmy Smith on their critically acclaimed album Root Down goes to show you that sometimes we must look back and praise the past.

Jimmy's 1972 album starts out with "Sagg Shootin' His Arrow". Now I have no clue what this means but I do know this tune is laden with funky licks. It's 11+ mins is full of relentless B3'in. This is followed up by the shortest song on the album, "For Everyone Under the Sun". This one is much more solemn in its presentation and takes a little while to fire up. "After Hours" is next. It's presentation is more blues based with its BB King style guitar playing and harmonica accompaniment. This track seems like it should have been on another album as it stands out as being out of flavor for this album.

My favorite, "Root Down" is next. Need I say anything about this track? NO! It's as good as they get. Then we're onto "Let's Stay Together" which is written by Al Jackson, Jr. of the Booker T. & the MG's and popularized on Al Green's album of the same name. There is nothing ground breaking here but it's decent nonetheless. "Slow Down Sagg" is next and it packs some trusty grooves of which you might expect. The drum work on this one is excellent and keeps the song movin at a frantic pace.

Rounding out the album is a previously unreleased "Root Down" alternative version. It's slightly different presentation is unique enough to keep you interested for sure. My mantra holds true with this album, seek out the origins of today's music and you might be surprised by what you find.

Lonnie Smith - Think!

This album wastes no time getting into the groove. It starts out with a jammin' song named "Son of Ice Bag", whose 11min incantation is nothing short of smokin'. You'll want to get up out of your chair and start dancin'. It's so dog gone firey I just don't know what else to say.

Lonnie Smith's original title "Call of the Wild" is a spicy latin influenced conga infused song. It's something you might hear on the streets of Cuba during a carnival. This song is a little long winded for me and not as free as the first. "Think", the title track brings things back into focus with some fast finger keyboard work. It's the shortest song on the album but sweet nonetheless.

Rounding out the album are "Three Blind Mice" and "Slouchin'". I have to admit that I don't like the lyrics to "Three Blind Mice" but the boogaloo guitar work by Melvin Sparks always keeps me listening. This is my least favorite song on the album for the reason mentioned above. Apparently I have some kind of mental block. The last song is more my speed. It's like cool watermelon on a hot day because each solo brings tasty goodness.

I'd have to say that without the first song on this album, I probably would not have bought this album. Lonnie's other album, Live at Club Mozambique is really the one to get if you are going to buy one of his albums.

The Poets of Rhythm - Discern / Define

The German based band, The Poets of Rhythm is one of the few bands out there currently playing with that late 60's & early 70's vintage soul/funk kind of sound. I bet few could tell by listening to this album that it was produced a couple years ago as apposed to 30+. These guys have the sound down pat.

The first song on the album is the title track and its instrumental presentation lets you know that you are in for some funky soul goodness. It's a little too structured and scripted thought. Later on in the album things loosen up. The second track, "Smilin'" is hard to put a finger on. The sparse vocals are overlaid on some groovy electronic keyboard riffs, but the vocals themselves lead you to wonder when this song was produced. It doesn't really fit anywhere in time. It's kinda 70's disco, kinda 70's funk and maybe a little soul. Strangely, by the end of the song you are sucked into its memorizing vortex.

Then we're off to "Ham Gallery" whose face paced beat lays down some funky goodness. I only wish this song...

Brother Jack McDuff - Down Home Style

If you don't know who Brother Jack McDuff is then you should learn yourself about this great soul-jazz artist.

This album starts out with "The Vibrator" which is in it's own right aptly named. It begins and ends up with a somewhat of annoying vibrating riff that just goes on too long. This turns out to be my least favorite song on the album. From there we go to "Down Home Style" which is serves up some groovy melodies.

"Memphis in June" is a little more somber in it's presentation. This one is more soulful and laid back. Makes you want a cool lemonade to sip on. We then move into "Theme From Electric Surfboard". I'm not sure what this title means but it does seem like it could be the intro to some late sixties film. It's more full of pop than it is on fizz.

"It's All A Joke" is next with a meandering organ groove that sets the tone for the song. About 1/2 way in, Jack kicks it into high gear going on a solo that doesn't stop until the song ends. Sweet!

I want some "Butter (For Yo Popcorn)" is the next kickin' tune on this album. This is my favorite lick. This one is fulla nectar and is just hoppin'. You've got to be funky if you have a song named "Groovin" on your album. Put this song on and you'll feel like you're drivin' down the road with the top down without a worry in the world. Dig it!

"As She Walks Away" rounds this album out. Since we've had so much action on this one, it's time to bring it back down. This one pulls us down from the sky and lets us land softly, but in a funky way of course

Lastly, it is interesting to note that out of 8 songs, all but 2 are written by Jack. It's easy to put out an album with all covers, and tough to break out new ground like Jack did here.