POWERFXThe Funk MasterDo you like authentic funk? The Funk Master ($99.95; audio CD) from PowerFX aims to provide loops with the sort of funk popularized by James Brown in the late '60s and early '70s. It features John "Jab'o" Starks, the drummer who laid down the original grooves for "Sex Machine," "Get on the Good Foot," and other hits. Take it to the bridge!
Mastering the FunkThe Funk Master presents two groups of musicians. The Super Bad Virtual Band performs the full-band loops; this outfit includes Richard "Pistol" Allen (Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Stevie Wonder) on congas; Henry Gibson (Aretha Franklin) on percussion, Chuck Anthony (Evelyn Champagne King) on guitar, Josh Harris (Whitney Houston) on sax, and Jair Rohm Parker Wells (James Blood Ulmer) on bass. The second group performs "alternative takes" and incorporates top-notch Swedish session musicians Kjell Segebrant on guitar and Anders Molin on bass. If this disc is any indication, there are some serious funk/soul/R&B players abiding in that Nordic realm.
The first 38 tracks comprise 2-bar loops in a variety of keys. Tempos range from 80 to 130 bpm in increments of 10 bpm. There are several grooves at each tempo, and each track has five or six loops. The loops start with the entire group and follow with individual parts: drums, bass, guitar, alto sax, and percussion. Tracks 39 and onward consist of the alternative takes. These are loops of individual instruments, most of which are recorded at the same tempos mentioned earlier. There are usually 12 takes per track, plus an abundance of single hits from Jab'o's vintage Gretsch and Ludwig kits. The remainder of the disc includes a few bongo, conga, and tambourine hits.
The bass, alto sax, and guitar parts are all in the key of C. This is a limitation, but you can eke out a workable range if you need a different key.
ObservationsThis disc does a great job of walking the fine line between digital clarity and the lo-fi sound of a bunch of funk musicians getting down in a live room. You get high-quality audio, plus a sense of earthy, soulful playing, which is what a CD of this kind should be all about. The musicians played in a live wooden room, and producer Bil Bryant recorded the tracks to 2-inch tape for extra warmth.
The centerpiece of the disc is, of course, Jab'o himself. His drumming has the force of a veteran funk drummer, and his patterns work not only in traditional styles but also as processed loops in contemporary dance styles. His drumming exhibits a driving assertiveness that also lies in a relaxed pocket.
Likewise, the guitar parts are precise yet have that essential "dirty" funkiness in the chordal comping, wah-wah licks, and single-note chunks. The alto sax is from the R&B school, full of bite. Anders Molin takes a traditional finger-style approach to the bass playing-no slapping and popping here. He is a very solid player with a palette of bass lines that fit the drum parts perfectly.
The 2-bar loops in the full-band section sometimes felt too brief, and I would have preferred 4-bar phrases. The individual players' 2-bar loops work together well, as the bpms are consistent.
We Want the FunkSo, do you like authentic funk? If you do, I recommend that you check out this CD. The genuine funkiness of these musicians, along with the quality of the audio, make The Funk Master a worthwhile addition to your collection.
Overall EM Rating (1 through 5): 4