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Who Are the new funk bands?

Geddyfleaharris

Geddyfleaharris

Mar 5, 2007
3,237
1,320
Portage la Prairie, MB, Canada
#1
I have been a metal/hard rock guy all my life. I have always listened to other types of music and RHCP are one of my fave bands. Although I guess you might put them in a hard rock category at times. I have always had a soft spot for Parliament/Funkadelic even at my rockinest most. Mothership Connection is a brilliant album.

Lately, after reading about some of the bassists in Bass Player mag, I have branched out (never leave my metal roots behind entirely) and am really starting to appreciate bands like Earth Wind and Fire and Tower of Power. Now sometimes I will admit the ballady stuff bores me a bit but even some of that is very good to my ears. The tunes with a full on, slammin' horn section have just as much oomph as my metal faves although in a different way (if you know what I mean).My question is who are the new bands doing high powered funk? I have no idea as I have never really followed the genre.

:bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
#2
You MUST buy the album Rage by Lettuce. While you are at it, get Outta Here and Live in Tokyo by Lettuce as well. It simply doesn't get any better than these guys for slammin' funk and butt movin' tunes.

Other albums you should check out are:

The Clinton Administration - One Nation Under a Re-Groove -- It's a P-Funk instrumental tribute that slams.

George Duke - Face the Music -- Christian McBride on Bass. Sick.

The Greyboy Allstars - What Happened to Television?

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - The Bridge

Liquid Soul - Here's the Deal

Maceo Parker - Roots & Grooves:Back to Funk (Live)

Nils Landgren Funk Unit - 5000 Miles

Oz Noy - Fuzzy

Robert Walter - Giving up the Ghost -- Just buy any Robert Walter album and you won't be disappointed.

Soulive - Soulive or Breakout (or just about any Soulive album)

Stanton Moore - Stanton Moore III, Flyin' the Koop, and Emphasis! (On Parenthesis)
 
#4
Definitely try out
Poets of Rhythm - Discern/Define
Antibalas - Security
Budos Band- Budos Band II
Karl Hector & The Malcouns- Sahara Swing
Mulatu Astatke- Ethiopiques Vol. 4
Menahan Street Band-Make the Road by Walking

These albums and bands are funk with a little bit of African and soul influence
but all have awesome horn sections and can funk with the best of them
 
#12
there are more talented funk players then ever, but everything I've seen referenced in this thread bores me. I guess a lot of what I like about the funk is the classic 70s (or even 80s) feel... and I just don't hear that from today's bands, no matter how great the players themselves are... the parts just don't add up to much - you get a lot of open-ended jams, but rarely a tight funk song.

I would LOVE to be corrected
 
#13
RCCollins said:
there are more talented funk players then ever, but everything I've seen referenced in this thread bores me. I guess a lot of what I like about the funk is the classic 70s (or even 80s) feel... and I just don't hear that from today's bands, no matter how great the players themselves are... the parts just don't add up to much - you get a lot of open-ended jams, but rarely a tight funk song.
I would LOVE to be corrected
Click to expand...
And your recommendations are?
 
#14
Geddyfleaharris said:
That's what I am talkin' about!

That was great. :)
Click to expand...

Hope you watched the jam cruise video too. I was listening to this today and my son says, "WHAT are you listening to?" He said it sounded "wierd". LOL. I just told him I was soaking in some soul. He didn't get it but he's 12 and plays guitar. lol. I would almost trade my bass for the Rhythm guitarists job. Pretty cool!:bassist:

Oh and Dumpstaphunk rocks it too! Like JmJ said.
 
#15
RCCollins said:
there are more talented funk players then ever, but everything I've seen referenced in this thread bores me. I guess a lot of what I like about the funk is the classic 70s (or even 80s) feel... and I just don't hear that from today's bands, no matter how great the players themselves are... the parts just don't add up to much - you get a lot of open-ended jams, but rarely a tight funk song.

I would LOVE to be corrected
Click to expand...

If you can't at least get on board with Lettuce, I worry about you very much. Rage is one of the best albums I have ever heard, and Live in Tokyo makes my entire band want to quit playing because we will never live up to that standard.
 
#16
One more try then, if you miss the 70/80s grooves from groups that specialize in that sound -- brand new, classic, but 100% original writing from the Brothers Lombardo (Bari, Italy) of CAMERA SOUL - "Not For Ordinary People"!
For serious funk tracks, try "My Heart", "I Don't Like Flowers", "Not For Ordinary People" and "Full of Me" and more. Fantastic bass from Beppe Sequestro, lead vocals from Serena Brancale.

Entire album can be heard and purchased at http://timkatent.bandcamp.com

Best,
Kathryn
 

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