[Harp-L] funk

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I seem to recall having written things about funk and funk harmonica  
in the past for the list.  Ah, here:

http://harp-l.org/mailman/htdig/harp-l/2005-August/msg00837.html

Now, let's separate funk from funky.  It's a bit like separating the  
blues from a blues.  Thus, when someone like Fats Waller plays a  
blues it's not the same as when Muddy Waters plays the blues--one is  
a form within jazz, the other is another genre of music entirely.   
Similarly, while someone like Jimmy Smith may play "funky", it's not  
really the same as the genre which became funk.  By now funk is a  
well-defined genre in and of itself--over 40 years old, really.

A lot of people have incorporated funk elements into their playing,  
with perhaps Junior Wells and James Cotton being the two most  
prominent and successful examples amongst blues harp players--some of  
what they did especially in the early and  mid 70's crossed the line  
completely from being blues to being funk.  As for funk harmonica  
players, well, Stevie Wonder and Lee Oskar with War are the only two  
really known for it (there are others, some quite good, but these are  
the two big ones).


Philharpn writes:

"Funk is a beat that is on the 2 and 4 but just a little before the  
4, which
is another variation of the famed back beat in a 4/4 measure instead of
punching the 1 and 3, the 2 and 4 are emphasized."


I would disagree entirely.  Funk as it has existed essentially since  
the mid 60's is defined by the beat being on the 1, distinctly not on  
the 2 and 4 as most previous American pop and folk styles were.  This  
was the big revolution of people like James Brown and The Meters: the  
beat moved from the relaxed swing to a more hectic stomp.  Now, if  
you're talking about more "funky" stuff like Jimmy Smith or the some  
of Wells and Cottons albums, then often the beat did remain on the 2 
+4, but really for most of what is identified as funk the beat is  
strongly on the 1.

I m trying to think of one major funk musician or band since James  
Brown that wasn't overwhelmingly on the 1: Sly, P-Funk, War, Stevie  
Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Gap Band, Prince...It's hard to find one who  
didn't mostly hit it on the 1, which is indicative of the importance  
of that beat, IMO.

Now, that's not the only definition, as you rightly point out  
specific chord sequences are common in funk.  But if it isn't on the  
1, it's really hard to say it's funk and not just funky.




 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'