After the Bootsy Collins show on Friday (one of the best I’ve seen in quite awhile BTW), I decided I needed to beef up my CD collection with some good funk albums. I’ve got all the “standards” – P-Funk, James Brown, Sly, etc. – but I can’t think of any decent “funk” bands that are still around.
So, anybody know of any funk bands (besides Bootsy) that are releasing new material?
Thanks in advance.
A newer funk band that I just discovered is call ‘Of Montreal’. I think they’re pretty awesome
You motherfunker. now I’m a be jealous all day that someone, somewhere saw Bootsy.
Don’t know about name bands now-adays, but there’s lots of local groups around the country that are tight.
Shout to Bernie Worrell and his project – he’s very much alive. And, in a jazz-funk, check Dr. Lonnie Smith’s group if you can – he always does an amazing show and is very much grooving hard. (If you want some pop-oriented stuff on disc, his “Boogaloo to Beck” and “Jungle Soul” [the last one is more jazzy, but grooves hard too] are ones to snatch ahold of).
There’s a group of artists bound together by their label “Royal Family Records.” They mix and match lineups with the funkiest being Lettuce, but Soulive throws out some pretty good funk mixed with soul.
Galactic is New Orleans funk mixed with a host of other influences, but always awesome live.
You should have went to Bonnaroo this year. I saw him there for a 3hour set. Also got to see Dr. John with the original Meters. BTW, He’s not pure funk, but if you love funk, I recommend Dr. John if he comes to your town. Also, the original Meters rarely come together, but the Funky Meters do tour quite a bit. I’ll be seeing Bootsy again next Tuesday at the Ottawa Bluesfest. The Funky Meters will be there too.
Definitely add the Meters if you don’t have them in your CD list.
I came up playing piano by learning Dr. John’s stuff off his records. If I get stuck and can’t figure out what to play, I still bust out “Such a Night” or “Right Place, Wrong Time” or “Somebody Changed The Lock” or all his other hits.
He’s the living master, him and Allen Toussaint, of doing that percussive thing on piano. I would have loved to have heard him with Art and the boys. Maybe next year (crosses self Saint style). ETA I’m listening to an old live recording of Booker T. – kind of the same bag, but a bunch a Beatles tunes I’m learning just by osmosis. Love the way Booker T. plays piano – I wish there were more records of him playing straight gospel piano. He’s got that nice percussive snap and catch with the pedal that you need to get the feeling right. Billy Preston (RIP :() had that too – that’s why “blues” ain’t so easy as everyone thinks.
The list so far:
(1) Of Montreal
(2) Bernie Worrell and his project
(3) Dr. Lonnie Smith’s group
(4) Royal Family Records
(5) Lettuce
(6) Soulive
(7) Galactic
(8) Bonnaroo
(9) Dr. John with the original Meters
That’s not a bad start – thanks! Much appreciated.
The Funk Brothers had a resurgence around 2004 because of the film “Standing In The Shadow of Motown”. They may still tour a bit, but they’re getting up there in age.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ Naturally. Funkshone. Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators.
On a more mainstream note, Red Hot Chili Peppers has some of my favorite contemporary funk, particularly from the early Hillel years. You should have the George Clinton-produced Freaky Styley as well as Mother’s Milk in your collection, if you don’t already. I realize this is 25 years old, though. Man, I’m having trouble with that. 
Oh, Smoove & Turrell, too.
I don’t know what qualifies as funk these days, but I have had Soulico playing today. It’s klezmer meets funk meets hip hop.
Best band you never heard of.
“Klezmer”? Like, Chassids with clarinets and whatnot? With funk and hip hop? This would be worth it for the curiosity value alone.
And if you like the jazz side of funk, there’s Medeski, Martin, and Wood.
Joan Osborne sings some Motown stuff, but she’s more R&B nowadays.
George Clinton is still around. He’s played our local West Beach Festival I think the last two years.
Sweet!
I think I can assume you know who Victor Wooten is, but if not check out anything he is involved with, the man makes the Bass sound like a sex-machine (James Brown Reference).
Just to clarify, Bonnaroo is the music and arts festival where I recently got my funk on. Not a funk band. Coincidentaly, the festival is named after an album Dr. John recorded with the Meters called Destively Bonnaroo. Which, btw, is what they were doing at Bonnaroo this year, playing the album in its entirety for the first time live. Allen Tuissant (sp?) was on stage too. I’m pretty sure he produced the album.
I would recommend the Craig Charles* Funk and Soul show, on BBC 6music, which I think you can hear on iPlayer, even in america (at least, there always seems to be a lot of american listeners emailing in, so they must listen some how). He always plays a Fantastic mix of classic and contemporary funk. I’ve discovered a lot of great tunes on his show