Ain’t No Funk Like N.O. Funk
Various Artists
Bullseye/Rounder
You wouldn’t expect New Orleans to be classified as the birthplace of funk, but it certainly seems to have a legitimate claim on the title. It’s not that surprising – hot, damp, and heavy seems to be common quality to both city and genre, and this disc has nothing but proof of that.
About the only act on here I’ve heard of is Galactic, and that’s a shame. New Orleans’ particular flavor of funk is heavy on the city’s jazz and Dixieland influence, leading to a more complex melodic sound than you usually hear. Highlights are numerous – in fact, the whole disc is a highlight – so I’ll forego the descriptive verbiage and instead insist that all fans of funk, of real, honest, greasy, smoky funk buy two copies of this. One for themselves and one for those who haven’t yet heard of this record. Rounder Records, 1 Camp St., Cambridge, MA 02140; http://www.rounder.com
