Oct 29th, 2008 · Many Mexican musicians in the late '60s and early '70s introduced listeners to the "hard" side of funk. These bands played raucous covers of classic hits and composed their own strident songs. This list compiles some of the best and most obscure cuts of the era.
Oct 24th, 2008 · In a session recorded by KEXP during the CMJ Music Festival, Fujiya & Miyagi's members play the ambient funk cuts off Lightbulbs. The band closed the set with an unreleased song, "Sick and Tired" — a piano-driven romper that sounds like David Bowie's "Suffragette City" on a heavy krautrock kick.
Oct 5th, 2008 · A new musical by choreographer Bill T. Jones explores the controversial life and legacy of Nigerian musical revolutionary Fela Kuti. Fela pioneered Afrobeat, blending African harmonies and rhythms, jazz, funk (and even a little James Brown) with satirical lyrics criticizing the Nigerian government.
Sep 16th, 2008 · Record collectors entranced by the otherworldly sounds of Ethiopian funk and jazz of the 1960s and 70s had only rare 45s to slake their thirst until the Ethiopiques series of albums hit US shores in the late 90s. Those albums feature some of the best music to come out of the scene, but still more albums await re-release.
Sep 15th, 2008 · For its latest album, the New Orleans funk band laced a new element on top of its groove-based jams: hip-hop MCs. On tour, Galactic visited Mountain Stage with one of its guest stars, Boston rapper Mr. Lif.
Sep 10th, 2008 · Predictable music is usually the most forgettable. Fortunately for electro-funk artist Benji Hughes, his debut double CD, A Love Extreme, struts with enough ear candy and lyrical surprises to make it one of the year's most memorable releases.
Aug 30th, 2008 · Duke has put out more than 30 albums, which have incorporated jazz, pop, Latin and R&B to critical and commercial success. On his latest album, Dukey Treats, the legendary keyboard player, composer, arranger and bandleader pays tribute to funk, soul and Sly Stone.
Aug 26th, 2008 · The popular funk band teams up with James Brown's arranger and trombonist in a collaboration between two different generations of groove musicians. Hear them perform a set of original jams and classic R&B numbers, live at the Newport Jazz Festival