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Showing results for tags 'Funk'.
Found 9 results
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Why not. -
The Souljazz Orchestra is another newly discovered band (for me). Their 2012 release Solidarity is a nice mix of afrobeat fueled funk with a couple reggae inspired tracks thrown into the mix. They are already promoting a new release called Inner Fire for February 2014 backed by a Canadian and European tour. Hopefully they will make a return trip to DC (Rock & Roll Hotel in 2012, which was before I discovered them...doh). Couple official videos up on YouTube: Ya Busta Bibinay Jericho
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I know it's a little bit hard not to cringe at the complacent sexism of this material, but Joe Tex was one of the greatest soul singers we ever had, and this was probably his definitive recording, "Hold What You've Got", from 1964. And I love it. I never had the pleasure of seeing Joe Tex perform live. -
I almost posted this in "Who are you drinking to", but it's probably better here. Maurice White, founder and presiding genius of the group Earth Wind & Fire, died yesterday. They were among the great musical acts of the 1970s. Here's one of their greatest recordings:
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I've been a fan of Dr. John for most of my life. My first exposure to him was his very first album, Gris-Gris, released in 1968, although it was probably the following year when I first heard it. "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya": His earliest work as a leader was drenched in voodoo, or at least voodoo trappings, and was sometimes rather disturbing, like the track above, and this, from Dr. John's 1971 album The Sun Moon & Herbs, "Craney Crow": Later in his career, Dr. John concentrated more on straightforward New Orleans music, although he continued to make unconventional costume choices, as you'll see here in a brilliant performance of the New Orleans classic "Iko Iko" with the first iteration of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band (1989), and a remarkable collection of icons it was: I don't use "brilliant" casually. God, I wish I had been there. The talent on that stage was positively prodigal.
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One of the greatest and most influential electric guitar-players in the history of electric guitar, his live performances were, well, electrifying: I had the enormous pleasure of catching Freddie King live at the old Jazz Workshop on Boylston Street in Boston, probably about a year after this recording, and man that cat could wail. He had this way of throwing in some really surprising, flawless lick, and then he'd look out at the audience with a sly grin. His set that night was one of the high points of my life. He really tore the house down:
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William Onyeabor is a somewhat obscure 1970s-1980s Nigerian musician who self-produced and pressed his own records. His music is probably best described as afro-funk-centric with heavy synths, tinged with a little disco/soul and drawn out jams...many songs stretch to the 8-10 minute mark. After releasing 8 albums, he became a born-again Christian and apparently disavowed music. He has been recently gaining recognition in the press, this week's New Yorker has a short piece on him in the listings section. David Byrne's Luaka Bop has released a compilation cd of his music. And Byrne is putting together a very brief four stop tour playing his music (NYC, LA, and San Fran) William Onyeabor - Good Name William Onyeabor - Something You'll Never Forget -
Kings Go Forth is one of those bands you are really glad you got to see live once, because just when they were on the verge of critical acclaim...gone. Debut on David Byrne's Luaka Pop (The Outsider's Are Back) Two mentions in the New Yorker Magazine Four star review in Spin Magazine SXSW gig European tour Killer show at the Rock & Roll Hotel And then nothing. Enjoy it while it lasts. Kings Go Forth - One Day (promotional video)
