• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What happened to funk?

#101
Surprisingly there are a couple of Norwegian guys who are doing some pretty funky stuff these days.

Jarle Bernhoft used to be in a rock band called Span, but is doing more of a soul thing now, and this one has a pretty smooth funky vibe:


Ole Børud is really funky at times and has a deep westcoast vibe:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andrew Hargrove
#105
Kwesi said:
Seriously, I love when people ask where the funk has gone cuz it gives me the chance to show off all the cool stuff that's happening TODAY. Nothing wrong with the old old but I love me some new and you just might too. This won't be strictly funk but it'll be plenty funky:

- Snarky Puppy. Seriously, nuff said.

I could go on an on but check these folks out :).
Click to expand...


please go on! loved them all
 
#106
cnltb said:
I'd be real careful here as the importance of one singly style of music in terms of it's influence on others is quite easily overstated.
I never denied the influence of funk on other styles of music.
And...'house' a dominant style?
In the 80's maybe.


But all that doesn't matter anyways I recon.
Click to expand...

None of the styles I mentioned would exist if it wasn't for funk. And house has been one of the most dominant forms of club music since the late 80s - in fact early 90s, as it was much more of an underground phenomenon in the 80s.
 
#107
Floridabwoy said:
Yeah... Funk is defo still kicking. There is a whole festival in florida dedicated to it.

Invalid Link Removed

Lettuce
Galactic
Soulive
George Porter's Running Padners
Dumpstaphunk
etc.

There is a **** load out there, just get a shovel.
Click to expand...

Also big up to Pimps of Joytime, that guy writes some *honest* funky tunes, straight outta the '70's vibe there.

Lettuce is funky for sure but can get a bit rock-esque too, Galactic has more New Orleans and other influences and can also delve into some not-completely-funky complexity during jam/solo sections- not to say I don't like it, I love it, but it's not what I would call "uncut funk".

Soulive, which I love to death, is funky but also very jazzy, not straight up funk but definitely "good to ya". They're just an amazing band. I see them at the forefront of jazz that's extremely groovy more than being a funk band, but forget labels, just check them out, they are exceptional.

Dumpstaphunk is some of the nastiest funk ever, just wish they had some better tunes/hooks to hang their killer grooves on.

It's funny but these are all bands whose CDs I buy and who I go see play live. I would only categorize a few as funk bands, but I would say they are all jam bands. They are in the jam band festival scene for sure.

George Porter is royalty as far as I'm concerned, hated hearing what happened to PBS, and can't wait to see the Runnin' Pardners when they come around here.
 
#109
bass12 said:
None of the styles I mentioned would exist if it wasn't for funk. And house has been one of the most dominant forms of club music since the late 80s - in fact early 90s, as it was much more of an underground phenomenon in the 80s.
Click to expand...

Your first statement is hypothesis.
I do not disagree however, on the point that house has been one of the most dominant forms of club music.
But isn't club music itself kind of niche?
 
#112
cnltb said:
The first statement is hypothesis.
I do not disagree on your point that house has been one of the most dominant forms of club music.
But isn't club music itself kind of niche?
Click to expand...
Hypothesis? Perhaps I should say that none of those styles would exist as they are if funk hadn't happened? The lineage is pretty clear, however. Hip-hop was largely built on breaks taken from funk and disco records. The earliest hip-hop recordings consisted of live bands covering funk/jazz-funk/disco of the era. The dominant style of hip-hop in the early 80s was electro-funk. Disco grew out of funk and R&B. House was an electronic continuation of disco. As for club music being a niche I would say that in the 80s and much of the 90s that was true, but not anymore. Listen to some of the hits by LMFAO, Lady Gaga, Rihanna - it's straight up club music but you'll hear it on any top 40 pop station.
 
#117
Dumpstaphunk

Funk is alive and well and relevant anywhere you need a Groove!
I think it's interesting that bands like The Talking Heads (Bernie Worrell and Busta Cherry Jones) and artists like Tori Amos (George Porter, Jr.) go to Funk Musicians for pocket. It may not be awful and irrelevant if you want to groove and pay the bills.....:bassist:
 
#118
bass12 said:
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion but I don't see how funk could be perceived as being all that offensive, even to a person who might not appreciate it.
Click to expand...

It just seems affected and superficial to me. I can't feel it, it sounds like pretentious pop to me.
Maybe it's just me, but I hate it of all my guts. Not that a slap line can't fit in, I even like some of Primus stuff or some funky drums, hell I even like Medeski, Martin & Wood (funky as hell but dosn't ever use slap and pop). I guess it's just that your typical funk with your typical funk guitar and cheesy way to use horns, just ads up as being repulsive to me.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back