My first post to start things rolling on Quadzilla’s Playlists page was Funkaliciuos.1 (Jan.8, 2025), so I decided it was time for a “funk” follow-up! The second reason for this follow-up is because of an amazing documentary I watched the other night on PBS: “We Want the Funk” by Independent Films (April 8, 2025). The company’s promo had this to say: “’We Want the Funk’ is a syncopated voyage through the history of funk music, spanning from African, soul, and early jazz roots to its rise into public consciousness.” It does all that and more, focusing on many of the funk legends like James Brown, George Clinton, and Sly and the Family Stone, just to name a few. While I have been a huge fan of this type of music for quite some time, what I learned from watching this show was that there is a specific label for the unique beat/progression that is embedded into just about every funk tune I have ever heard: “The One.” No, I am not referring to Neo from The Matrix; this has to do with the four count of a funk song that always goes: ONE, two, three, four. When I heard the narrator say this, it was as if a light bulb went off in my head. Right after watching the documentary, I re-listened to the following playlist, and, sure enough, that distinctive four count was in just about every track! Just think back to “Thank You” by Sly and the Family Stone (1970), and that thumping bass note by bassist Larry Graham Jr. who, not surprisingly, is credited with the invention of the “slapping” technique on the electric bass guitar. Since then, bassists all around the globe have been “thumbs” up!
The 14 tracks by 12 different bands/artists that make up this playlist are all from the 21st century – 2003-2024, to be exact, with Franc Moody and BMD having two tracks each. The labelled genres include dance, R&B/soul, jazz, electronic and, of course, funk, although there are only two cuts labelled that way! Below you will find profiles on four of the artists on the playlist – BMD, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Candy Dulfer, and Dr. Rubberfunk. Make sure you keep scrolling after the playlist for a special “funk” surprise!
BMD (a.k.a. BluntMaster Dred) is a Polish DJ and producer. He has been involved in many different musical projects, working with different musicians and experimenting with his voice as an MC. As a DJ, his style ranges from nu funk, funky breaks, and big beats, through funky/vocal/disco house to nu school breaks. The featured track, “Funk Soul Summer,” has that slapping bass mentioned above front and center.
I have been following and enjoying the music collective, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, ever since they released their debut album, Cool Steady and Easy in 1995. They are known for their mixing of jazz, funk, and hip hop, featuring musicians and poets from different cultures. The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker and bassist and musical director, Lati Kronlund. In the mid-1990s, the group was a staple of the New York club scene. Their first release, mentioned above, scored a hit with their rendition of Pharoah Sanders,” “The Creator Has a Master Plan.” Their follow-up album, In The Buzz Bag (1998), included Turkish folk music rhythms and instruments, which were recorded in consortium with the Turkish clarinetist, Hüsnü Senlendirici. Their latest release, Intuition is from 2023.
Candy Dulfer (1969), a mostly self-taught multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and band leader, is from Amsterdam, Netherlands. She began playing the drums at age five. As a six-year-old, she started to play the soprano saxophone, switching to alto saxophone at age seven, and later began playing in a local concert band, Jeugd Doet (“Youth Brings Life”) in Zuiderwoude. She played her first solo on stage with her father’s band, De Perikels (“The Perils”), and at eleven she made her first recordings for her father’s 1981 album, I Don’t Ask. When she was twelve years old, she played as a member of Rosa King’s Ladies horn section at the North Sea Jazz Festival, and it was King who encouraged Dulfer to become a bandleader, which she did at age fourteen (1984), starting the band Funky Stuff. Her band played throughout the Netherlands in the 80s and, in 1987, they were the opening act for two of Madonna’s European concerts. In 1988, Prince invited Dulfer on stage to play an improvised solo during one of his European shows. Dulfer performed session work with the Eurythmics guitarist and producer, Dave Stewart, dueting with him on the worldwide hit single, “Lily Was Here,” contributing to the soundtrack of the same name. There were also stints with Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, and Alan Parsons. All of this on top of the 13 albums she has released between 1990 and 2022. The featured track here offers a great sax solo by Dulfer.
Simon Ward began DJing as Dr. Ruberfunk in 1992 and released his debut 12” single in 2001. He recorded several albums after this initial release, and produced Izo FitzRoy’s debut album, “Skyline.” In 2008, Dr. Ruberfunk joined the Jalapeño Records family and brought his live drumming, funk breaking, irrepressible good time vibe to the j-funk party. He is a lynchpin of a growing group of DJs and producers pushing an eclectic brand of funky music – at the moment named only be the label that pulls them all together – “Jalapeño” Funk. Dr. Ruberfunk performs regularly at Jalapeño Sound System nights as well as his various London DJ residencies and guest slots around the globe.
The “surprise” I mentioned at the outset is a German guitarist that I recently discovered, Joscho Stephan (1979). I have to admit to having a soft spot for guitarists, especially ones that simply make the instrument “sing” in ways that I did not think were possible, which is saying something considering the amount of guitarists I have listened to and admired over the years. He is from Mönchengladbach, West Germany, a jazz guitarist who is known for his interpretation of classical, jazz, and pop standards in the style of Gypsy jazz, made famous by none other than Django Reinhardt. And speaking of Reinhardt, he and Stephan will appear again this month in a DUTC. Stay tuned! The video below the playlist is of the Joscho Stephan Trio performing over six minutes of acoustic funk. Be ready to be wowed!
Enjoy!
Funk 22. Joscho Stephan Trio, featuring Sven Jungbeck (guitar/percussion) and Volker Kamp (double bass), March 2024.
And just for the hell of it, Sly and the Family Stone with “Thank You.”
PS: My favorite comment on the Sly video goes like this: “The 70’s: When sugar was what sweetened soda, drinking age was 18, Mom and Dad had no idea where you were most of the time, and THIS was on the radio. I would love to go back for just one night.”
Los Angeles 2025
Would have loved to see that Doc. I will track it down. Being a subscriber to the oddly Boston PBS from my cable provider, I can get access to a lot stuff they have already aired.
Unless I missed something, it appears you have been keeping secrets from me, Joscho Stephan Trio, what the heck!
I can get into this one North.
Just discovered him! Stay tuned, more coming by him!
Great stuff North. I’ve been a lifelong fan of funk too. The performance by the Joscho Stephan Trio is marvelous, and I love the video of Sly & the Family Stone performing “Thank You”.
I figured you might be. When I watch Stephan play I find myself thinking: “I used to tell people I play the guitar,” when it really should have been: “I play at playing guitar!” I’ve watched many of his videos and by the end my mouth is always hanging open in disbelief. Yup, that Sly video is a hoot. Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.