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The Jazz Funk thread.


bubinga5
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For me this area is very polarising with the broad definition of 'Jazz Funk' being unhelpful...

Most pure Jazz Funk, i.e. groove-based I find dull to the point of bad disco/porn soundtrack (chicca-wow)
RTF - I love except but they're more Jazz Rock to my ears and when they did get more Jazz Funk on 'No Mystery' I didn't like it. (title track excepted)

Grooves without development are boring. Which is probably why I'm not keen on many forms of dance music.

(I realise by writing this I'm excluding myself from 75% of popular music... *reaches for Joe's Garage...*)

Edited by Dad3353
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For me this area is very polarising with the broad definition of 'Jazz Funk' being unhelpful...

Most pure Jazz Funk, i.e. groove-based I find dull to the point of bad disco/porn soundtrack (chicca-wow)
RTF - I love except but they're more Jazz Rock to my ears and when they did get more Jazz Funk on 'No Mystery' I didn't like it. (title track excepted)

Grooves without development are boring. Which is probably why I'm not keen on many forms of dance music.

(I realise by writing this I'm excluding myself from 75% of popular music... *reaches for Joe's Garage...*)



I completely agree. Jazz Funk, for me, takes the best bit of Jazz, the surprises, and replaces it with predictability. Jazz Rock, yes. Jazz Funk, not really (don't hate it, just wouldn't listen to it as a first choice). Edited by Dad3353
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I completely agree. Jazz Funk, for me, takes the best bit of Jazz, the surprises, and replaces it with predictability. Jazz Rock, yes. Jazz Funk, not really (don't hate it, just wouldn't listen to it as a first choice).



I had a very interesting experience in the late 70s at a Herbie Hancock concert - he played two sets separated by an interval - he announced the first as jazz and the second as jazz funk. I recall being one of about 100 people present in the 1500 seater theatre in the first set - and it was full in the second - apparently the bar was completely packed during the first half!! I concluded jazz lacked one major thing which jazz funk had - an audience!! I also recall the second set was far more dynamic with just as impressive solos and the like, but with some pretty intricate groove playing. I think even Cantaloupe Island was in the second set - though I can't clearly remember that.

How do you guys who think jazz funk wrecks jazz rate The Crusaders - I saw them probably three times in the 70s - they were extremely R and B and jazz all at once.

I always thought jazz rock was a bit of a white man's genre - I seem to recall this from Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce and Hatfield and the North concerts in the 70s - both the audiences and the players. I would have said Brand X was more jazz rock than jazz funk though clearly R and B influenced also - similarly Return to Forever and Weather Report though the latter draw on all sorts of worldwide influences.

Or are we talking 60s crossover like Soft Machine and Blood Sweat and Tears? Edited by Dad3353
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More Jazz/Hiphop/Neo Soul than funk, but Robert Glasper is playing Birmingham Town Hall on 20th November.


Neo in the genre name of any form of music means absolutely noting to me musically, it only appears as a way of rebranding existing music to make it seem new and different. I have heard singers describe themselves as neo-classic-soul singers which leaves me no wiser about how they may sound. Hopefully you can let me know what that term means to you to aid my understanding. Edited by Dad3353
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Neo in the genre name of any form of music means absolutely noting to me musically, it only appears as a way of rebranding existing music to make it seem new and different. I have heard singers describe themselves as neo-classic-soul singers which leaves me no wiser about how they may sound. Hopefully you can let me know what that term means to you to aid my understanding.



I think the neo bit is just to differentiate it from other,more mainstream, R & B.

It probably started off as a marketing ploy but has come to mean a specific type of sound from the likes of D'Angelo and Erykah Badu. Edited by Dad3353
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Don't get me wrong, bands like The Crusaders are great at what they do. I am just not a big fan of it. Personally. I think the difference is in the drummer. Jazz Funk is mostly very ordinary back beat stuff which I find uninspiring as a general rule.



A question of personal taste I guess. I personally prefer the stuff more directly influenced by R and B and find rock rythmns a bit tepid at times.

I had the likes of Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, Buddy Rich as some of my favourite drummers along with John Bonham, Phil Collins etc from the rock angle.

I really think it is just a matter of personal taste. Edited by Dad3353
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I completely agree. Jazz Funk, for me, takes the best bit of Jazz, the surprises, and replaces it with predictability. Jazz Rock, yes. Jazz Funk, not really (don't hate it, just wouldn't listen to it as a first choice).

I think the clue is in the name. It's uses jazz chords( not always of course ) but uses the funk structure of a record.

Edited by Dad3353
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Bluey from Incognito on guitar back In the 80,s. With the mighty Light of the World.

[media]http://youtu.be/OHDFAX-Lia4[/media]



My favourite band when I was in my teens - Loved "Midnight Groovin" and "Swingin" - I acquired the greatest hits album a couple of years ago - must get it out. Edited by Dad3353
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I first heard this album called Focused many years ago. This for me is jazz funk. Billy Cobham at his best imo.
The album version is much better.
[media]http://youtu.be/D4B6Q0fApaM[/media]



I have that album. Some great playing on it from all.

Pretty much the same band on this (Red Baron).
The Bass player is Philippe 'Fifi' Chayeb. He plays great.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVRlMqHauuw[/media] Edited by Dad3353
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A question of personal taste I guess. I personally prefer the stuff more directly influenced by R and B and find rock rythmns a bit tepid at times.

I had the likes of Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, Buddy Rich as some of my favourite drummers along with John Bonham, Phil Collins etc from the rock angle.

I really think it is just a matter of personal taste.

I Agree and i find funk/fusion rythyms far more interesting to play than a walking line if i'm honest especially on electric bass.

Edited by Dad3353
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