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Looking for Recordings - Jazz Funk Trio

#2
Because of the spike in popularity of that musical format around 25 years ago, a lot of what you hear might sound dated now. But here are some thoughts:

A lot of Jonas Hellborg's catalog, especially the Shawn Lane collaborations. Consider "Abstract Logic" and "Time Is The Enemy." Some of this music is a little out there, loosely arranged.

Everything by Tribal Tech, especially the "Face First" and "Illicit" records. These are quartets, not trios, but no horns. Gary Willis on bass.

For that matter, Gary Willis' solo album "Bent."

John Scofield's "A Go Go" album, which was a collaboration with Medeski Martin & Wood. Much less fusion-y than everything above.

Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" album (Lee Sklar on bass).

John Patitucci has done some albums with Adam Rogers and Steve Cardenas (both guitarists) plus Brian Blade that he refers to as the "electric guitar quartet". The best of them is probably "Brooklyn." This music is contrapuntal, contemplative, and mostly downbeat, it's not wild rowdy funk at all. Very good for what it is.

Lastly, even though it's a full band album (no horns though?), I have to recommend "Plantation Lullabies" by Meshell Ndegeocello, which might actually be the best jazz funk rhythm section on an album recorded in the last 50 years. I am not kidding. Its only real competition would be her next album "Peace Beyond Passion."

If you get into any of these and want more specific recommendations based on what you did and didn't like, let me know.
 
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#3
Chicken Wing said:
Hi All,

Looking for recommendations for jazz funk trios to listen to. I don't like horns at all... Keyboard/Bass/Drums or Guitar/Bass Drums. Chill or up tempo. Just thoughtful stuff.
Click to expand...
If k/g/d would work for you, how about a little Delvon?


Medeski, Martin, and Wood’s catalog is vast, you’ll have to jump in the deep end on your own…



Then, back in the mists of time…
Brian Auger was a major UK name in the late 60’s, had his k/b/d trio, but they were often joined(augmented? Sorry..)by vocalist Julie Driscoll…

Later into the 70’s he expanded the line-up of the band(so that wouldn’t fit your criteria), but this later version was something of a hit in the US, and were part of a jazz/rock/funk movement that was a precursor to fusion, and not proggy(like a lot of those other keyboard Brits).
There’s this UK trio I just recently found out about, The Peddlers…

Not always that ‘funky’, maybe a little too lounge, but that last song brings me to ‘he who cannot be ignored’ in this format, Jimmy Smith…

While he did do many albums with horns/orchestration, he set the standard for organ trios in jazz, with an influence on rock. If you would allow for a quartet, with Wilton Felder taking over on bass from Jimmy’s feet, the Root Down album is iconic required listening.
 
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#4
Altitude said:
Because of the spike in popularity of that musical format around 25 years ago, a lot of what you hear might sound dated now. But here are some thoughts:

A lot of Jonas Hellborg's catalog, especially the Shawn Lane collaborations. Consider "Abstract Logic" and "Time Is The Enemy." Some of this music is a little out there, loosely arranged.

Everything by Tribal Tech, especially the "Face First" and "Illicit" records. These are quartets, not trios, but no horns. Gary Willis on bass.

For that matter, Gary Willis' solo album "Bent."

John Scofield's "A Go Go" album, which was a collaboration with Medeski Martin & Wood. Much less fusion-y than everything above.

Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" album (Lee Sklar on bass).

John Patitucci has done some albums with Adam Rogers and Steve Cardenas (both guitarists) plus Brian Blade that he refers to as the "electric guitar quartet". The best of them is probably "Brooklyn." This music is contrapuntal, contemplative, and mostly downbeat, it's not wild rowdy funk at all. Very good for what it is.

Lastly, even though it's a full band album (no horns though?), I have to recommend "Plantation Lullabies" by Meshell Ndegeocello, which might actually be the best jazz funk rhythm section on an album recorded in the last 50 years. I am not kidding. Its only real competition would be her next album "Peace Beyond Passion."

If you get into any of these and want more specific recommendations based on what you did and didn't like, let me know.
Click to expand...
What !?

I dare you to cover any tune from that album, specially the most covered one "Stratus" or "Red Barron" with a 3 piece band only, you'll always miss either the guitar or the keys. Even in live situations it's at least a 4 piece band.
 

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