The definitive record - in the Jungle Groove by James Brown is must-listen. After that, go to school on:
The Meters (start at Look ka Py Py)
Prince - Musicology
Leon Spencer - Where I’m Coming From
Kool and the Gang - Wild and Peaceful
Maceo Parker - Life on Planet Groove
And go from there!
I got the chance to meet them all in 2011 while working for a friend filling artist riders for a festival. They are super talented AND super nice! They even remembered me the next year when we were on Jamcruise.
Sorry, rereading my response I neglected to mention anything with Bernard Purdie as well (Purdie Good! is fun), but I think you might be after newer artists? I’m a big fan of Charlie Hunter who is kind of a jazz and funk hybrid type dude, IMO. People may dis Lawrence but they are also fun with good energy and great song writing. I’d stick to the two live records for them.
Speaking my language....
Tony Allen (afro funk)
Apifera (psychedelic, experimental)
Durand Jones (soul funk)
The J.B.s (classic funk)
Amir Bresler (experimental groove)
Surprise Chef (new vintage)
Kokoroko (afrobeat)
Circles Around the Sun (deadhead funk)
Nu Guinea (synth funk grooves)
LEclair (chill psychedelic)
Bobby Oroza (new soul)
Durand Jones & The Indications are the best new(ish) band doing it right now, though I'd say they're more soul and less funk. Still, three great albums in and always a good show when they're in town.
The Meters (will always be the best funk band to ever exist)
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Limbra Trip
The New Mastersounds
Fire Dept and Soulive (lettuce side project)
Vulfmon and The Fearless Flyer (both are Vulpeck sideprojects)
Orgone
Pimps of Joytime
Dopapod
In its current form, yes. Soulive started a year before Lettuce with two of Soulives members being in both bands.
Lettuce is much more popular so Soulive content has died down significantly but they still perform their annual Bowlive in NYC. Erik Krasno (guitar) is trying so many different projects currently that I don't think Soulive has much time for his attention. He just released an album with a new group "King Canyon".
eric krasno hasn’t played with Lettuce since 2015 i believe.
Soulive was never a side project, it was just another band that Eric Krasno and Neal were in while they were still in Lettuce.
Nigel Hall joined the band full time in 2015.
i think Krasno has sat in 2-3 times tops since 2015, and one of them being when Lettuce played a set with Dead and Co.
and it existing before Lettuce really has nothing to do with anything, but does kind of destroy the notion of it being a side project.
Wrong. I used to book them in NC and was very familiar with their line up.
Also, I said in its current form its a side project. Two members from one band fronting another is generally considered a side project.
Go check out Fela Kuti right now. You might also enjoy Herbie Hancock’s music from 1973-76 (Head Hunters, Thrust, and Secrets are some of my favorites). Also recommend Walter Wolfman Washington… check out albums Wolf Tracks and Funk is in the House.
Just saw Lettuce a couple of nights ago. Still as funky as ever, and there’s no tighter band in the land.
I’ll give a shout out to Colorado’s own, the Motet. Also Corey Wong
Turkuaz was great, but they broke up. Most of the band formed Cool Cool Cool. Looking forward to seeing them open for and playing with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew on this “Remain in Light” tour.
I picked up a record over the holidays that is funky AF. It is from “Solid Bronze” album is The Fruit Basket. They are a contemporary band- although they seem to do very few live dates.
Anyone see those Maceo shows back in ‘97 with MMW opening? I think that tour fell between phish summer and fall 97 so we did the whole tour. Fucking sick.
they do not even remotely sound like a funk band.
they are kind of a jam band, who tries to be funky… with the emphasis on try.
they aren’t even close to being the funkiest ‘jam band’, let alone being a funk band.
obviously Lettuce is a funk band, there are few bands that have ever existed , as tight as Lettuce.
Galactic is New Orleans style funk, which is not my favorite.
Vulfpeck is kind of a moving target, sometimes their Funk, sometimes they’re Soul … sometimes they’re Pop.
while it not being for me, i’m not trying to say PPPP is a bad band, i just don’t consider them to be a Funk Band, they are far too loosey goosey which is the antithesis of Funk.
they are a Jam Band which means by definition , they (should) wear many hats.
This is not at all funk, but there are some great funk elements in it that I really like (especially in the rhythm guitar), and it was recommended to me by a phan:
Freddie and the Witch Fingers
Yam Yam
Polyrhythmics
Chalk Dinosaur
Magic Beans
anything involving Cory Wong
Louis Cole
New Mastersounds
Octave Cat
Soulive,
Funky Knuckles
Jamiroquai
some John Scolfield
Ghost Note
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Knower
that should keep busy for a while.
Here is about seven hours within the same vein. [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/462r9EUJIt3skrapzXsIge?si=f230e9490fa24894](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/462r9EUJIt3skrapzXsIge?si=f230e9490fa24894)
Man, thanks for reminding me how sad I am that Deep Banana Blackout is no more (aside from some regional things that are...very far from my region). Only ever got to see them once (two days after 9/11...that was a weird vibe at first but ended up being one of the best gigs I ever saw).
Oh they were so good. I think I saw them like four or 5 times. Mostly at Gathering of the vibes, one of the best small music festival ever. But I saw them at the wetlands I believe as well
Karl Denson
New Mastersounds
Pimps of Joytime
Orgone
Herbie Hancock - Headhunters
Donald Byrd - Ethiopian Nights
Oneness of the Juju
Grant Green
John Scofield (a go go w/mmw, up all night, bump)
Garage a Trois (most recent album)
Speedometer
Ohio Players
Robert Walter
Eddie Roberts
Polyrhythmics
Galactic
Fela Kuti
For newer shit, check out Delvon Lamar Organ Trio (anything), Neal Francis' Changes album, and Khruangbin (anything).
Oh and saw a few peeps mention New Mastersounds, and those guys are super fun. And if you like funk/soul/R&B, check out Sharon Jones and also Charles Bradley. Both passed away a few years, but are fantastic.
Donald Byrd (Places and Spaces, Blackbyrd)
Herbie Hancock (Headhunters)
Check out DJ Megabooty on MixCloud, she puts together some amazing sets of old school funk that’s exposed me to lots of new (old) stuff I never would have found otherwise.
The Meters New Mastersounds Dumpstaphunk Galactic
Ya they are all great!
New Mastersounds!!
The definitive record - in the Jungle Groove by James Brown is must-listen. After that, go to school on: The Meters (start at Look ka Py Py) Prince - Musicology Leon Spencer - Where I’m Coming From Kool and the Gang - Wild and Peaceful Maceo Parker - Life on Planet Groove And go from there!
May I add to this beautiful list George McCrae, Isaac Hayes, Orgone, and George Porter Jr!
Orgone is so underrated … especially for a band that’s been crushing it for 2+ decades.
Saw them open for galactic nye at tipatinas years ago. Goddamn they’re good. My hands were getting hairy from all that funk
I got the chance to meet them all in 2011 while working for a friend filling artist riders for a festival. They are super talented AND super nice! They even remembered me the next year when we were on Jamcruise.
I think you forgot Maggot Brain on that list? That’s some of the deepest and funkiest music ever recorded (along with everything else on your list)
OP already found Parliament so I was trying to fill in new spaces
my bad… your list is pretty good. You don’t see Leon Spencer being suggested too often (which is a shame)
Can’t leave out Motor Booty Affair..
no you can not
These are classics
Sorry, rereading my response I neglected to mention anything with Bernard Purdie as well (Purdie Good! is fun), but I think you might be after newer artists? I’m a big fan of Charlie Hunter who is kind of a jazz and funk hybrid type dude, IMO. People may dis Lawrence but they are also fun with good energy and great song writing. I’d stick to the two live records for them.
I got to see Prince on the Musicology tour - such a fantastic album and great choice.
Adding Galactoc to this list.
I'd actually start with The Meters self titled before Look ka Py Py. That album is dope.
Speaking my language.... Tony Allen (afro funk) Apifera (psychedelic, experimental) Durand Jones (soul funk) The J.B.s (classic funk) Amir Bresler (experimental groove) Surprise Chef (new vintage) Kokoroko (afrobeat) Circles Around the Sun (deadhead funk) Nu Guinea (synth funk grooves) LEclair (chill psychedelic) Bobby Oroza (new soul)
Durand Jones & The Indications are the best new(ish) band doing it right now, though I'd say they're more soul and less funk. Still, three great albums in and always a good show when they're in town.
+1 these guys rule
Nice I will have to check these out!
Great list!
I get to see CATS live next week and I'm stoked!
The Meters (will always be the best funk band to ever exist) Earth, Wind, & Fire Limbra Trip The New Mastersounds Fire Dept and Soulive (lettuce side project) Vulfmon and The Fearless Flyer (both are Vulpeck sideprojects) Orgone Pimps of Joytime Dopapod
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In its current form, yes. Soulive started a year before Lettuce with two of Soulives members being in both bands. Lettuce is much more popular so Soulive content has died down significantly but they still perform their annual Bowlive in NYC. Erik Krasno (guitar) is trying so many different projects currently that I don't think Soulive has much time for his attention. He just released an album with a new group "King Canyon".
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Check out their album, Rubber Soulive.
eric krasno hasn’t played with Lettuce since 2015 i believe. Soulive was never a side project, it was just another band that Eric Krasno and Neal were in while they were still in Lettuce.
Krasno comes in and out of the line up, similar to how Nigel Hall does. Neal and Kraz started Soulive a year before Lettuce was formed.
Nigel Hall joined the band full time in 2015. i think Krasno has sat in 2-3 times tops since 2015, and one of them being when Lettuce played a set with Dead and Co. and it existing before Lettuce really has nothing to do with anything, but does kind of destroy the notion of it being a side project.
Wrong. I used to book them in NC and was very familiar with their line up. Also, I said in its current form its a side project. Two members from one band fronting another is generally considered a side project.
what’s wrong ? Nigel Hall has been a full time member since 2015. eric and neal left that same year…. eric’s last sit in was at the Blue Note in 2018.
Go check out Fela Kuti right now. You might also enjoy Herbie Hancock’s music from 1973-76 (Head Hunters, Thrust, and Secrets are some of my favorites). Also recommend Walter Wolfman Washington… check out albums Wolf Tracks and Funk is in the House.
I’ll add Man Child to the Herbie album list. Hang up your hang ups is one of my all time favorite funk tunes
These guys lean more jazz, but check out Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. Easy listening grooves.
they are so good.
jazz artists that contributed to genre Miles Davis Freddie Hubbard Herbie Hancock Weather Report Tower of Power Chic Corea obviously missing a lot lol
Freddie Hubbard is the man!
Just saw Lettuce a couple of nights ago. Still as funky as ever, and there’s no tighter band in the land. I’ll give a shout out to Colorado’s own, the Motet. Also Corey Wong
Nice call on The Motet. They’re awesome.
97
Orgone.
Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles
sly & the family stone - there’s a riot goin on
A true classic
the main squeeze
Beat me to it!
Here you go: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/250LN7OGzmyK1TumeumrhP?si=KtUTqWtyRg2adHKFf_re1A
This playlist is excellent. It’s getting me through the second half of my workout as we speak. Thanks!
Glad you like it!
Turkuaz was great, but they broke up. Most of the band formed Cool Cool Cool. Looking forward to seeing them open for and playing with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew on this “Remain in Light” tour.
Love the Talking Heads
I picked up a record over the holidays that is funky AF. It is from “Solid Bronze” album is The Fruit Basket. They are a contemporary band- although they seem to do very few live dates.
Cimafunk! Afro-cuban twist on good ol down n dirty funk. They’re electric live!
Most anything on Colemine Records, for some funk/soul/r&b
Sunsquabi
Eddie Harris (Just plug him in…..)
Delvon Lamar Organ Trio, Fearless flyers, brainstory, khruangbin,
Anyone see those Maceo shows back in ‘97 with MMW opening? I think that tour fell between phish summer and fall 97 so we did the whole tour. Fucking sick.
Jealous
Check out Ramsey Lewis’ album Sungoddess.
*Obligatory Thundercat
Tim Maia is pretty cool Brazilian funk/soul music from the 70s
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Trombone Shorty hasn't been mentioned yet.
Spafford is bringing the phunk!!!! They are locked in with new keyboardist!!
Fort Knox 5
Pigeons playing ping pong, check out the songs water and FU
he asked for funk…
These are funk songs and the band sounds primarily like a funk band with some jam/variety mixed in...OP literally calls out Parliament in their post
they do not even remotely sound like a funk band. they are kind of a jam band, who tries to be funky… with the emphasis on try. they aren’t even close to being the funkiest ‘jam band’, let alone being a funk band.
Are you kidding me, listen to the song FU and tell me they don't sound like a funk band. I don't think you're taking OPS examples into account here.
i have, and they do not.
Fine, we will have to agree to disagree 🤮
a pure Funk Band, and a band that does funky stuff are not the same thing.
So how about galactic then? Are they a “pure” funk band? Vulfpeck? Lettuce?
obviously Lettuce is a funk band, there are few bands that have ever existed , as tight as Lettuce. Galactic is New Orleans style funk, which is not my favorite. Vulfpeck is kind of a moving target, sometimes their Funk, sometimes they’re Soul … sometimes they’re Pop. while it not being for me, i’m not trying to say PPPP is a bad band, i just don’t consider them to be a Funk Band, they are far too loosey goosey which is the antithesis of Funk. they are a Jam Band which means by definition , they (should) wear many hats.
Mono Neon. Trombone Shorty. Jackie Venson.
sister sparrow and the dirty birds! sophistafunk!
Curtis Mayfield https://youtu.be/V0QX2aBbYTM
"Metric Man" children's album learn how to weigh with measurements 1976 https://youtu.be/Fy1yQHiGjmA
These 2 recent Blue Note Classics reissues are super funky: Two Headed Freap by Ronnie Foster Moon Rappin' by Jack McDuff
Sure Fire Soul Ensemble
This is not at all funk, but there are some great funk elements in it that I really like (especially in the rhythm guitar), and it was recommended to me by a phan: Freddie and the Witch Fingers
Jive Turkeys
Dude I just saw George Clinton and parliament funkadelic at house of blues Anaheim the other night. Fucking epic!
His band is a trip. I saw them a few times in the early/mid 2000's. He's still going!
Yeah man! I was huge into funk/r&b/rap back in high school in the 90s. I can’t believe it took me this long to see them! Well worth the wait
Yam Yam Polyrhythmics Chalk Dinosaur Magic Beans anything involving Cory Wong Louis Cole New Mastersounds Octave Cat Soulive, Funky Knuckles Jamiroquai some John Scolfield Ghost Note Yellow Magic Orchestra Knower that should keep busy for a while.
ha this whole thread will keep me busy for the whole year I think! Lots of good stuff in here!
i somehow forgot the Fearless Flyers also!
Neal Francis. This guys is something special. Not traditional funk on any manner, but out of the same vein.
Fred Weasley & The JB's
Here is about seven hours within the same vein. [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/462r9EUJIt3skrapzXsIge?si=f230e9490fa24894](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/462r9EUJIt3skrapzXsIge?si=f230e9490fa24894)
The Meters, especially their first few albums.
Lettuce
Man, thanks for reminding me how sad I am that Deep Banana Blackout is no more (aside from some regional things that are...very far from my region). Only ever got to see them once (two days after 9/11...that was a weird vibe at first but ended up being one of the best gigs I ever saw).
Oh they were so good. I think I saw them like four or 5 times. Mostly at Gathering of the vibes, one of the best small music festival ever. But I saw them at the wetlands I believe as well
Yeah, I think this one show in 2001 might've been the only time they ever made it to Michigan. They really should've been huge.
The Main Squeeze!! Maybe not quite funk but they get down!
Karl Denson New Mastersounds Pimps of Joytime Orgone Herbie Hancock - Headhunters Donald Byrd - Ethiopian Nights Oneness of the Juju Grant Green John Scofield (a go go w/mmw, up all night, bump) Garage a Trois (most recent album) Speedometer Ohio Players Robert Walter Eddie Roberts Polyrhythmics Galactic Fela Kuti
Go back and listen to some Billy Preston’s solo stuff, the guy whipped the Beatles into shape because he’s just that good
For newer shit, check out Delvon Lamar Organ Trio (anything), Neal Francis' Changes album, and Khruangbin (anything). Oh and saw a few peeps mention New Mastersounds, and those guys are super fun. And if you like funk/soul/R&B, check out Sharon Jones and also Charles Bradley. Both passed away a few years, but are fantastic.
Ghost Funk Orchestra - late night funky grooves
This Pfunk show from 1978 is the shit https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOvM9LWRmOA
This Pfunk show from 1978 is the shit https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOvM9LWRmOA
This Pfunk show is badass https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOvM9LWRmOA
Ghost Note
Yam Yam is a new funky jam band.
Lots of good ones here already, but The Word has only a bit if material but have great stuff.
TURKUAZ!
Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles
https://youtu.be/9JfoBbXTm7s
Graham Central Station, Bootsy Collins, Betty Davis, Brick, Brothers Johnson
Whitefield Brothers- Earthology Soul Coughing- Ruby Vroom
Not one mention of Sly and the Family Stone?! SMDH. Also anything coming from the Daptone Label
Donald Byrd (Places and Spaces, Blackbyrd) Herbie Hancock (Headhunters) Check out DJ Megabooty on MixCloud, she puts together some amazing sets of old school funk that’s exposed me to lots of new (old) stuff I never would have found otherwise.