Is Funk A Dying Genre?

[ebozzz]

Being the Funk lover that I am, I constantly try to find new artists that bring it. Most of the time I am terribly disappointed but I do occasionally find a group/individual that's decent. My most recent find is Waltz of a Ghetto Fly by Amp Fiddler which I feel is pretty good even though most of it is keyboard bass. Other than that one, I'm at a loss. Sombody help me out. Post some discs that I need to check out. Is Da Funk going to be lost?

[Against Will]

Micheal Franti and Spearhead have a nice funk/reggae/soul vibe. Its not hard funk like, say, Parliament/Funkadelic etc. but its definately got the boogie.

Ozomatli are on the latin/fusion/funk/hip-hop tip and are a live show that is not to be missed.

Funk isn't going to die, musical genres don't really "die", they get old and moldy, yes. But eventually everyone comes due for a kick in the ass. I think funks virtues of groove, bombast and eclectimaniacagroovahellisciousness are too compelling to just let die and be forgotten.

[Planet Boulder]

Check out Antibalas or Vinyl.

They've got some solid grooves happenin'.

[JimK]

EB0-
...it is pretty bad when compared to the olden daze.
On the current scene, I like Robert Randolph.
Otherwise, I'm content to unearth some of the great stuff I missed out on the first-time around.

[leanne]

Originally Posted by JimK

EB0-
...it is pretty bad when compared to the olden daze.
On the current scene, I like Robert Randolph.
Otherwise, I'm content to unearth some of the great stuff I missed out on the first-time around.

I'll second all of that... There's so much great funk out there to be discovered (uncovered?) that was recorded decades ago. As for current music, there's a bunch of good funky jazz stuff going on, funky latin stuff too.

What worries me more than the lack of good current funk bands is the fact that a lot of the people that grew up with this stuff are getting old enough not to want go to clubs as much, especially during the week. Bleh, I should have started playing bass when I was a baby.

Edit: Okay, one more thing I forgot to say:
Funk will never die!!!
Just so's ya know.

[Bayou_Brawler]

Maceo Parker "life on planet groove" is one of the funkiest albums ever and of the recent.

pure funk is dying...but A LOT of bands are putting a little funk in their style now a days.

[heath_the_great]

Originally Posted by ebozzz

Is Da Funk going to be lost?

hell no...not while im alive and kickin...as far as i know bootsy is still going..he has stop touring but he aint givin it up yet...look at meshell ndegochello, bit of funk/soul/rnb and erykah badu, she's the same but princes new album is extremely funky...rhcp are starting to loose da funk a little, but they'll come back...i hope......you shold hear a aussie bad, now split up, called DIG, Directions In Groove....very funky and jazzy...try and get an album called Deeper, its rather essential....but of course ben harper has nice groove to him

[deepbob]

>> 00 Soul (amazon link)

some samples:

>> du alma (mp3)

>> hey, hey, hey (mp3)

>> some tune (mp3)

[deepbob]

>> schmee (site link)

some samples:

>> push (mp3)

>> duck, duck, goose (mp3)

>> slide (mp3)

(mythology and slide are the more funk oriented thingies)

[JimK]

Hey Heath Meister-
I think you made Ebozz' point. In his initial post, he mentioned seeking out "new artists".

You mention Prince & Bootsy...both from the '70s
RHCP...from the '80s
Me'shell & Badu...early '90s

All still happein', of course...but nothing really "new".
Meanwhile, I gotta find Cymande's 1st 2 albums. Thanks for that heads-up, Leanne!

[heath_the_great]

Originally Posted by JimK

he mentioned seeking out "new artists".

Me , nah..me and my mates from school have started a kinda acid jazz/funk/soul/hip hop band....trying to do some really simple and dancable stuff...ill try and get some audio stuff up soonish..but really try and get that a DIG album..someone flogged my copy of Deeper and im bidding on another on ebay, so when i get that ill upload a demo....really good stuff

[brianrost]

Just keep your eyes and ears on the so called "neo-soul" artists and some of the crossover jazz stuff that is influenced by 70s Miles Davis (recent CDs by Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, etc.)

[ebozzz]

Originally Posted by JimK

EB0-
...it is pretty bad when compared to the olden daze.
On the current scene, I like Robert Randolph.
Otherwise, I'm content to unearth some of the great stuff I missed out on the first-time around.

Bad is an understatement Jim! I normally find myself same as you, blowing the dust off some of the oldies. That's cool but I would like to see some new artists continue to develop. Of course, I'm in Denver and the local scene here is very Funk deficient.

[ebozzz]

Originally Posted by brianrost

Just keep your eyes and ears on the so called "neo-soul" artists and some of the crossover jazz stuff that is influenced by 70s Miles Davis (recent CDs by Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, etc.)

I do Brian but most of the stuff that I hear leaves me wanting something that's better. I do keep looking though.

[ebozzz]

Originally Posted by Planet Boulder

Check out Antibalas or Vinyl.

They've got some solid grooves happenin'.

PB,

Thanks! I'll check those out. Whose Funkin' on the local scene?

[Kavorka]

Don't know if you've heard of Freekbass, but he's current. Apparently, he's Bootsy's protoge. Check him out at www.freekbass.com

[ebozzz]

Originally Posted by Kavorka

Don't know if you've heard of Freekbass, but he's current. Apparently, he's Bootsy's protoge. Check him out at www.freekbass.com

I've got Body Over Mind from Freek and I understand that he has a new release titled The Air Is Fresher Underground. What do I think of him? Let's just say that I would have to hear his new release before buying.

[BustinJustin]

and for a more mainstream approach-

Maroon 5- not a bad album

Remy Shand- a good buy as well, great R&B funk

Joss Stone- Don't own it, but the singles are funky

Outkast- funk for some, trash for others, give it a listen

there are more, but I suggested these as they are main stream, therefore I'd say it's not dying IMHO.

[ebozzz]

Originally Posted by BustinJustin

and for a more mainstream approach-

Maroon 5- not a bad album

Remy Shand- a good buy as well, great R&B funk

Joss Stone- Don't own it, but the singles are funky

Outkast- funk for some, trash for others, give it a listen

there are more, but I suggested these as they are main stream, therefore I'd say it's not dying IMHO.

Never heard of Maroon 5 or Joss Stone but I'll look into them. It's funny that you should mention Outkast. Most of the good Nu Funk from a music standpoint that I've heard recently comes from Hip-Hop.

[BustinJustin]

Originally Posted by ebozzz

Never heard of Maroon 5 or Joss Stone but I'll look into them. It's funny that you should mention Outkast. Most of the good Nu Funk from a music standpoint that I've heard recently comes from Hip-Hop.

your 100% right!