Funk is ending up like the Blues

[ElMon]

I have. One of the most unique musicians ever IMO. It can be almost painful to hear others try.


I take inspiration from him, Rocco, Jamerson, etc. but I don't try to copy them.

I treat Jamerson lines like Bach etudes. Every note. A lifelong quest at least.

Hope you get a chance to play cuts like "I'm The One". They were wearing those Mustang basses out.




Chicken bass groove... buckbuckbuck AH!

See, I just made that ‘I smell doo-doo face’ and now my neck hurts again. To the woodshed Robin!

 

[5StringBlues]

I like my blues covered in funky stank.






Find me a stankier blues and I'll eat your hat.

 

[Brad Johnson]

... “a lot of TBers who don’t care for my opinions, even when I’m not talking to them”?
Well, worst would be the case if they don’t care for your opinions when you’re talking to them ehm ...
Anyway, I understand your message; this, however, would constitute a limitation in principle of my freedom to talk on TB, which I can’t considered as acceptable

I expected no more.

 

[Manuel Bass]

One thing I should note is that girls and women of all races are holding up the bass and funk like never before. I just bumped into this cover of a collaboration between a Thundercat and the late Mac Miller.

Seeing this girl playing I think funk Health it’s in perfect shape

 

[crabfunk]

there will never be a hip-hop or rap act that can slam with anything near the ferocity of Tower of Power.

 

[Tupac]

This seems like a better-put spinoff of my thread

 

[JimmyM]

there will never be a hip-hop or rap act that can slam with anything near the ferocity of Tower of Power.

LOL! Funny stuff!

 

[Grahams Groove]

This thread has me listening to Thrust for the first time in 6-7 months. Hot damn...

 

[Jhengsman]

Hey is there a link to your essay. I'd like to read it. It sounds like our experiences are a bit different. I attended a very diverse High School in So.Ca. in the mid to late 70's and we had school provided instruments that I can't fathom today. From horns to bass. We even had an original Fender/Rhoads keyboard for our Jazz band. Please share the link or message it. Thanks. I will say it is sad these instruments are no longer available to most students today.

I was at a LAUSD Southern league school in South Central LA that was black and Asian, not Locke with Patrice Rusen or Washington with Rose Royce and we had a Fender Rhodes. Along with big amps that a guitarist and bassist rolled out to play with the marching band.

 

[Manuel Bass]

Now, the Bass Intro is very attractive but...
1. Some fills (repetitious 16th triplets) sound more like EXERCISES!
2. Overwhelming desire to fill ALL THE SPACES with "sterile and clearly-defined" short notes, avoiding funk's "BREATHING", funk's rhythmic articulation, etc..., but...

Joe Dart is an excellent bass player.
I'm very happy to know that we still have amazing BASS PLAYERS in pop music!

For being whites it’s very nice

 

[bluesblaster]

I saw TOP last summer at an outdoor show, some other guy playing bass, not Rocco. They still sounded good though.

 

[LBS-bass]

I saw TOP last summer at an outdoor show, some other guy playing bass, not Rocco. They still sounded good though.

Rocco has been unwell for quite some time. I'm not sure how much playing he is doing these days. I hear rumors that he's in, then rumors that he's out again. Would have loved to have seen him but didn't move to California in time for that, I'm afraid.

 

[bluesblaster]

Saw TOP back in the 70's with the original line up except I don't recall what singer they had at the time, that seemed to change frequently.

Rocco did play on last studio record, He just doesn't travel anymore from what I understand.

I think there are only one or two original members left.

 

[Passinwind]

I have no interest in debating which bands are truly funk, but in terms of success, Vulfpeck is right there with Lettuce IMO. They sold out Red Rocks last year and again already for their date this year.

They have a headlining date at Madison Square Garden. How much more successful does a band need to be to get respect?

 

[frankie5string]

I wonder what Roy Ayers thinks about all the sampling of his songs by new guys. <runs and hides>

 

[Fun Size Nick]

I have little to add to this other than to say that I would largely agree with Dr Cheese. I suppose it's just natural that something that came out of a particular young peoples' culture in the '60s and '70s would not have the same resonance with younger people of today.

However, I would say that all is not quite lost

 

[10cc]

Their farewell tour band is smokin by the way. Lige Curry killed it. They did a version of 'Cosmic Slop' that brought tears to mine eye.

Also a reminder to me of how vocal-heavy this band was/is. George's kinfolk blend really well together. Great show if you have a chance to catch it.

Cosmic Slop was my first Funk song and still is the epitome for me.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Vulfpeck + pop songwriting + ambition = the new Level 42?
It was hip to be into old funk like the Meters and JBs when I was in the college music scene 20 years ago. White kid funk has been around for a while now, I think.
A older drummer I worked with years ago had a saying: “Chops vs. musicality, an eternal struggle”.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I wonder what Roy Ayers thinks about all the sampling of his songs by new guys. <runs and hides>

I suspect he doesn’t mind as long as the checks don’t bounce.

 

[10cc]

Absolutely. They sound schooly. The study of music as to the players licks always end up sounding like that. Jazz schools do the same thing - there is Marley and a few others in reggae and a whole lot of copiers. It is always the way. The original players who create styles have that certain zing, the undoubtedly skilled players who dissect styles do it well (accurately) - but something is amiss.

Probably missing out on that key ingredient. Drugs. Lots and lots of drugs.