Funk Jam Rock

tagStarted 1993Peak 2000-2015Last big hit still active

Located in 1 route

Jam rock anchored to deep funk: syncopated clavinet and Hammond grooves, snapping wah guitar, horn-section stabs and a drummer-bassist pocket so tight the band can ride one vamp for ten minutes. Improvisation rides the groove rather than abandoning it — JBs-style breakdowns, P-Funk swagger and brass riffs over instrumental, dance-driven jamming.

History

Crystallized in the mid-'90s as New Orleans' Galactic and the soul-jazz organ trio Soulive (formed 1999) brought James Brown and Meters DNA to the jam circuit. Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and Lettuce extended the horn-driven attack, while New Orleans' Dumpstaphunk added two-bass P-Funk heaviness, all staples of festival late-night sets.

Defining artists

GalacticSpotify YouTube
SouliveSpotify YouTube
Karl Denson's Tiny UniverseSpotify YouTube
LettuceSpotify YouTube
DumpstaphunkSpotify YouTube
The MetersSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Hey Na Na — GalacticSpotify YouTube
Turn It Out — SouliveSpotify YouTube
Front Money — Karl Denson's Tiny UniverseSpotify YouTube
Squadlive — LettuceSpotify YouTube
Cissy Strut — The MetersSpotify YouTube

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Sources

https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/blue-note-jazz-club-funk-jam-series-2023-galactic-lettuce-soulive/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulive