LA :3 “The Clones of Dr. Funkenstien”

1. Ed Gonzalez October 16, 2008 MUY 2100 609 Words Dr. Southall LA :3 “The Clones of Dr. Funkenstien”

2. Music is ever evolving, even with the plethora of different genres available, artists are constantly pushing the envelope to make something new. This is partly because they do not want to be labeled and chained to a single type of music. For example, Kenny G, states that he never wanted to call his music “jazz”, because then certain people would not listen to it just because of the label.

3. Essentially music is a matter of perception, two genres that sought to break the perception of music were Fusion Jazz and Funk. These are styles are different in conventional rhythm and melody, but both have their roots in conventional jazz music.

4. Funk is an American style of music with Afro centric beats blended with R&B and soul jazz. This type of music is characterized by the slap and pop of a bass guitar and the syncopation of beats. The Godfather of Soul, James Brown is the earliest pioneer of this kind of music, with such hits as “Cold Sweat” and “I Got The Feeling,” he not only help create the new genre but also helped to bring it to the forefront of the music scene of the time. The five year period from 1965-1970 would not only see James Brown as the Godfather of Soul, but also the father of a new musical genre.

5. In 1970, however the figurehead of funk would change hands to a new producer and singer, George Clinton. Together his bands Parliament and Funkadelic, often combined to P-Funk, would rule the funk-loving world. With multiple albums, and many hits, including “Children of Productions” this new generation of funksters would help influence countless other artists and genres. The advent of funk is an extremely important period in modern R&B and hip-hop and the affects are still being heard today in popular music.

6. Another genre of music that expanded horizons was a hybrid of rock, jazz, funk, and R&B referred to as Jazz fusion or fusion for short. With the advent of electrical amplification and effects, jazz greats such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane were becoming more experimental with their sounds as seen in such songs as “A Tribute to Jack Johnson” Difficult rhythms and the complex chord changes pushed the boundaries of modal music often associated with jazz. Fusion became the bar that would raise the culture of jazz music.

7. Two former band members of Miles Davis helped elevate jazz fusion even further, John McLaughlin and Billy Cobham. Soon after meeting, they began to form the original line up of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, consisting of drums, bass, early synthesizers, violins, and guitars. This band began to stretch the boundaries of modern jazz through Indian influences by way of complex time changes that are evident in the song “Vital Transformation” and are constant throughout the band’s repertoire.

8. They are the apex of this genre, whereas Davis and Coltrane opened the door for experimentation, the Mahavishnu Orchestra perfected the jazz fusion sound.

9. With the constantly evolving nature of music and technology moving faster then it ever has before, evolution of genres and musical styles are essential. While Funk is still popular in modern music, fusion has faded from the modern scene. Although still respected by music connoisseurs, fusion has not stood the test of time and maybe that is a good thing. By not inundating the market with remixes of “Birds of Fire”, it makes it more special when it is heard and played. Funk on the other hand is seen in many modern day applications such as songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck. Essentially, Funk and Jazz Fusion are different branches of the same tree.