Deep Funk — CDs  

A mad mix of spaced out jazz funk from Madlib – working here in a style closer to his benchmark Yesterday's New Quintet mode of forward looking band-based grooves – but also taking it even further and into deeper realms! The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble finds 'Lib & co paying homage to a universe of late 60s & 70s soul jazz and fusion funk influences, as well as some more modern practitioners – with tracks dedicated to Horace Tapscott, Phil Ranelin, Roy Ayers and others – some covers and others composed by Madlib. Madlib is a character whose ambition knows no bounds, and also one of the rare modern masters whose productivity is to be cherished – as busy as he is, we're never disappointed with the output – rather than spreading himself too thin, he brings a range of material that rolls from dust funk & hip hop grit to far out funk jazz percussion gems like this one! Madlib presides over a cast of players (be they living-breathing folks or Madlib alter egos) that lay down loads of drums & percussion, piano, Moog, Rhodes, guitars, bass, sitar, vibes and more. Titles include "Derf (For Derf Reklaw)", "One For The Monica Lingas Band", "Waltz For Woody (For Woody Shaw)", "Tones For Larry Young", "Black Renaissance (For Harry Whitkaker)", "Mystic Voyage (For Roy Ayers)", "The Trane & The Pharoah (For John Coltrane & Pharoah Sanders)" and more.

Chicago hip hop jazz veterans J Davis Trio return with a solid EP – laid down with an impressive roster of guest musicians from the Chi community – led by the classic hip hop learned rhymes of Julio Davis! The group is as fresh as ever, with rhymes, keys and vibes by Davis – the rhymes reminiscent of Chali 2na and that school of throwback-styled charismatic flow – and vibes that add a bit of Roy Ayers-y jazz funk. Never strictly a trio, the group and extended family & friends on this set includes bassis Dave Smith, trumpet player Dave Winer, drums by San Sharp, sax by Chris Greene, congas by Ryan Murphy, violin by Inger Carle and others. The featured guest collaborators include vibes player Joe Sonnefeldt, guitarist, singer and on this set, Latin rapper Carlos Ortega, Chicago musical omnivore Nick Tremulis on electric guitar, and flute player Paul Mertens. Includes "The Answer" with Joe Sonnefeldt, "Girl, Intoxicating" with Carlos Ortega, "The Firm Swing" with Nick Tremulis and "The Bell Curve" with Paul Mertens.

Bombay the Melbourne way – a funk, disco and Bollywood loving collective from the Aussie scene – they're no pretenders, either! The group does a great job with Indian cinema-enamoured, though diverse tapestry of 70s funky soundtrack influences – the lead up 45 was a gem and the full length delivers in full on the promise. The vocalists – Parvyn Kaur Singh (as The Mysterious Lady) and Schourov Bhattacharya (as The Tiger) – really help get it over thematically, but the band is excellent. Horns, funk & psych keys, tabla, sitar mandolin and dilruba at the core – plus some guest violins and percussion. A win from the reliable Hope Street label! Includes "Monkey Fight Snake", "You Me Bullets Love", a funky cover of unlikely advert/pop culture-invading "Jaan Pehechan Ho", "Sote Sote Adhi Raat", "Mahindra Death Ride", "Oh Sajna", "Dacoit's Choice" and "Phone Baje Na".

A great little set from Alan Evans – better known as the drummer in Soulive, but equally smoking out here on his own! Alan doesn't always record on his own, but when he does, it's usually a great thing – and this cooking little album definitely lives up to the funky tightness we'd expect! In addition to drums, Evans also plays guitar and bass on the record – and other instrumentation includes more guitar and lots of Hammond too – but used in a style that's very different than Soulive – still funky, but a bit spacey and cosmic too – a bit in keeping with the image on the cover! Evans also sings a bit, with this great raspy style buried down amidst the groove – and titles include "Hotcakes Meltdown", "Thor", "Cosmic Hazel Dust", "Who Dare Knock", "They Call Me Velvet", "Have You Seen Him", and "Biscuits".