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real brox

Ahhh jazz!. So many styles, so little time.
“Gateway” is a track from the “Real Brox” 2 disc CD, 2002 by the quintet Beeblebrox.

Central to the tune are Monica Herzig on piano, Tom Clark on sax, and her husband Peter Kienle on subtle guitar and synth fills,recorded live, with a noticably bluesy feel.

If this had been recorded in the studio, it would most likely still evoke 50’s nightclub/black & white movie soundtrack images,because these cats are just that adept at their craft of imparting their musical message.

Monica shines and is at ease with classical arpeggios, or sparkling jazz riffs. Tom’s pleadingly plaintive tone on the sax is somewhat reminiscent of a mix of Eddie Harris, John Klemmer, and David Sanborn, done of course in a way uniquely his own.

Laid back, but by no means narcoleptic, I love this tune, and their style of playing.

Excerpt: MELVIN WALDEN-JAMES WRITES A COLUMN FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS JAZZ FOUNDATION, INC. PUBLICATION, “Indy Jazz”.

“The name comes from Zaphod BeebleBrox, the main character in author Douglas Adams’ science fiction satire ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.’ BeebleBrox’ music combines the elements of jazz, rock, funk, and world music to create a new sound, while keeping the fusion traditions of artists such as Weather Report, The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. You can hear many influences in the music of BeebleBrox, but their sound is unique!

BeebleBrox was first formed in Albstadt, Germany in 1983 by Peter Kienle. After teaming up with Monika Herzig in 1988, Kienle moved the group to the United States, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Herzig, composer as well as a respected jazz pianist, has recently been awarded a Down Beat magazine award for her composition, “Let’s Fool One,” and received a doctorate in music education and jazz studies from Indiana University.”

COP DIS JAM

ACME Records BB08-9929-2

Personnel:

Peter Kienle - electric guitar, guitar synth
Monika Herzig - grand piano, keyboards
Tom Clark - saxes, EWI
Jack Helsley - electric bass
Paul Surowiak - drums

Real Brox-Track Listing:

1. Birdie Nam-Nam 6:30
2. Belonging 8:50
3. Homer Simpson 13:32
4. Half Man - Half Brocoli 7:15
5. Baiao Do Banana/Bloomingtoon 6:57
6. Trojan Horse 6:51
7. Gateway 7:53
8. Beeblebrox 8:11
9. It’s Better to Keep Cool Sometimes 8:50
10. Lost but Not Forgotten 7:38
11. My Funny Glove Compartment 10:57
12. Mr. Simon 6:5
13. Homer’s Evil Twin 6:51
14. The Longest Day of the Week 7:53
15. Loose Ends 8:11

COP DIS JAM.

profyousion’s video review doin-it-to-death

funky good time: the anthology

From the opening guitar groove, the tone is set to have “A Funky Good Time” by all involved, musicians and listeners.
The beat is infectious, and draws you into what sounds like a live studio session, or someones’ house party!

While a kid in the 60’s,I got turned onto him by way of a cameo appearance in the movie”Ski Party”, in which he sang “I Feel Good”. Back then, black artists were rarely seen on tv, so it was a kind of event.

Even though James was on the tube, he still seemed like a regular neighborhood cat.

Time passed, and my musical tastes evolved, and became more “sophisticated”, and he kind of faded into my musical background.

He was never the greatest lyricist, but his style of raw funk is something I could never abandon completely.

James, the ultimate frontman, has always had the ability to re-invent himself and his act, and the band assembled for this track was the slickest to date, with a slammin’ trombone solo, which stands the test of time.

Liner Notes from Nation Master Encyclopedia

“Doing It to Death” (also known as “Gonna Have a Funky Good Time”) is a funk song recorded by James Brown and The J.B.’s. It was released as a single in 1973 and was a #1 R&B hit. Although the song has a lead vocal by Brown (who also wrote the tune and the lyrics), the recording is credited to “Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s.” It was the first J.B.’s recording to feature saxophonist Maceo Parker, who had returned to work with Brown again after attempting a career as a bandleader. The most renowned of James Browns many backing bands (previously, the Famous Flames and the James Brown Band), the J.B.s provided musical support for the legendary singer and bandleader for the first half of the 70s.
Fred Wesley (born 1943) is an American jazz and funk trombonist. … A saxophonist is a musician who plays the saxophone. … Maceo Parker (born February 14, 1943) is a noted African American funk and soul jazz saxophone player, best known for his contributions to James Browns distinct sound. …

Unusually for a James Brown song, the actual words “doing it to death” appear nowhere in “Doing It to Death”’s lyrics, which feature the hook “we’re gonna have a funky good time.” The title came from a figure of speech used by Fred Wesley.

A 10-minute, two-part version of “Doing It to Death” was included on a J.B.’s album of the same name. The complete, unedited 13-minute original recording of the song was first issued on the 1995 J.B.’s compilation Funky Good Time: The Anthology.

“Doing It to Death” cover
Single by Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s
from the album Doing It to Death
A-side(s) “Doing It to Death”
B-side(s) “Everybody Got Soul”
Released April 1973
Format 7″
Recorded January 29, 1973, at International Studios, Augusta, GA
Genre Funk
Label People
…
Writer(s) James Brown
Producer(s) James Brown
Peak chart positions

* #1 R&B
* #22 Pop

COP DIS JAM.

profyousion’s video review doin-it-to-death

Hit it! How you feelin’ brother? (Feelin’ good!)
You’re feelin’ good
You play so much bone, brother
How you feelin’, man? (I feel alright!)
I won’t call your name
I don’t want no people to know you’re in here
How you feelin’, fellas? (Alright!)
Now jam! Sure gettin’ down looka here… ah!
We’re gonna have a funk good time…x4
We gotta take you higher
Huh! Alright!
We gotta take you higher, huh!
Brothers! Now I want everybody to blow
About two choruses
And then I’m gonna wave you in
I wanna get the fella
With the little horn over there
Fred’s gonna take us higher, take us higher
Fred, Fred, Fred!

trombone solo

You know what, when I hear a groove
Like this groove, oh!
I say, I got to get higher
Yeah baby, yeah, yeah
Look a’here
When someone’s got a groove like this
You know, you know, no!
I need to grit, gotta grit
Gonna eat, gotta eat
Need to grit, gotta grit, no breath
You know, brothers
I’m gettin’ ready to wave y’all in
You know what
I feel so down, I need to get down
In order for me to get down
I got to get in D.
In order for me to get down, I got to get in D.
Need to get in D., dog for D.
Down D., funky D., shakin’ D.,down D.
Oh! Huh! Ha ha!
Get on down!
Look a’here, look at that
What we gotta do
Gotta have a funk good time…
Oh, yeah
I didn’t know you were singin’, Fred
Don’t moan so much
Buddy, don’t moan so much
We gotta take you higher
Wait a minute!
Know who you say that was over there
(Man, you’re lookin’ better)
(I know I’ve seen him somewhere)
Is that Maceo?

Personnel

* James Brown - lead vocal

with Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s:

* Fred Wesley - trombone
* Darryl “Hasaan” Jamison - trumpet
* Jerone “Jasaan” Sanford - trumpet
* Ike Oakley - trumpet
* Maceo Parker - alto saxophone
* St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
* Eldee Williams - tenor saxophone
* Jimmy Nolen - guitar
* Hearlon “Cheese” Martin - guitar
* Fred Thomas - bass
* John “Jabo” Starks - drums

Jimmy Nolen (April 3, 1934 - December 18 1983) is an American guitarist known for his distinctive chicken scratch rhythm guitar playing in James Browns bands. … John Jabo Starks is an American funk and blues drummer. …

COP DIS JAM<.

profyousion’s video review new power soul

new power soul

Whenever I think of Prince, I’m reminded of the off and on forays of my singing with a band.
While kickin’ around ideas having to do with what the bands’ direction, my question was:”why limit ourselves to any one particular style of music?”.
In answer to my query I was told something to the effect of: “you can’t do that because record companies don’t market groups that way.”
I more or less accepted this because I was less “experienced” than the other members, and being part of the band was fun at the time.

In some small way I must’ve had a kernel of a similar mindset which Prince not only had and mastered, but brought to fruition.

Although I tend to identify more with his jazzy/funky side and ballads, he has been able to also encompass rock, blues, pop and other genres like no other artist over the last 30 years.

This is not to say he hasn’t had missteps and made some poor decisions;public/private,both musically and contractually.

He has still managed to maintain his vision and the ability to still be a force in music to be reckoned with.

To this day, he is one of very few artists I will pay $100.00 to see live.

“New Power Soul” is probably one of his/their most under-appreciated albums.
Although credited as the New Power Generation’s only album, it is definitely Prince.

Sometimes, depending on the artist, lack of public support means poor product. Other times, reluctance can be the result of the product being other than expected. In the instance of “New Power Soul”, the latter seems to have been the case, because the album is excellent.

There seems to be 3 fan preferences for Prince’s music. Rock fans, funk fans, and the more sophisticated/exposed listener to whom both styles have appeal.

From start to finish, there is something for everyone, but you have to listen.

COP DIS JAM<.

profyousion’s video review new power soul

2 the darkness - let there be light
2 the soundman - turn up my voice real tight
2 the N.P.G. - if U in this mother, scream
Show me how U all get down - 1 2 3, come on

Get freaky, let the head bob {x2}
We should all come 2gether 2 the Newpower Soul
Get freaky, let the head bob {x2} (Come on, come on)
It’ll make U feel much better - come on, baby, let’s go!

Every while in a great once there comes 2 town a show
That lives up 2 all your funkspectation no matter how high or low
A reason 2 get your freak on in a way U never freaked before
Newpower Soul lay claim 2 the booty - come on, let’s go

(Lemme see U get down)
Let the head bob
Get freaky, let the head bob (Come on, come on)
We should all come 2gether 2 the Newpower Soul
(Lemme see U get down)
Let the head bob
Get freaky, let the head bob {x2} (Come on, come on)
It’ll make U feel much better - come on, baby, let’s go!

Every while in a day twice funky matters in our ear
As long as we keep our love strong, we’ll never shed no tears
The brothas be threatenin’ 2 jump off buildings, Newpower’s what they fear
Love 4 one another risin’, Newpower Soul is here

(Lemme see U get down)
Let the head bob
Get freaky, let the head bob (Come on)
We should all come 2gether 2 the Newpower Soul (Come 2gether)
(Lemme see U get down)
Let the head bob
Get freaky, let the head bob (Come on, come on)
It’ll make U feel much better (feel better) - come on, baby, let’s go!
Newpower Soul

(We should all) {repeat sample}
Gemini rising on the 7th day
Makin’ MAD SEX, UNTIL U’RE IN MY ARMS, OK?
’cause WHEN U LOVE SOMEBODY like that, it’s cool
U gots no need 4 the SHOO-BED-OOH-bed-ooh
The good life, yeah, we’ll be livin’
PUSHIN’ UP on every FREAK THIS SIDE of heaven
COME ON, come on, shake it, come on
U know I be’s THE ONE with the FUNKY MUSIC, hon’
And I’m layin’ phat claims 2 the booty
Phat claims 2 the Newpower booty
Keepin’ the crowd movin’, y’all, is my one and only duty, ooh wee!
With the NEWPOWER SOUL
Right on

We should all
We, we should all

Every while in the day 3 times my brother hit me on the one (Get freaky)
Abuse like that’ll either make U funky or make U wanna buy a gun
(We, we should all)
I’d much rather get my freak on and make U if I can
Newpower Soul lay claim 2 the booty - come on girl, let’s jam!

Get freaky, let your head bob (Get freaky, let your head bob)
We should all come 2gether 2 the Newpower Soul (Come 2gether)
Come on, get your freak on
It’ll make U feel much better - come on, baby, let’s go!
(Lemme see U get down)
Oh!

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Come on horns, freak on
Yeah (We should all come 2gether)
Right on

Everybody’s coming 2 the Newpower Soul
Let the head bob
Get freaky, let the head bob (Yeah)
(Lemme see U get down)
We should all come 2gether 2 the Newpower Soul (Come on)
(2 the Newpower Soul)
Let the head bob
Get freaky, let the head bob (Yeah, well come on)
(Lemme see U get down)
We should all come 2gether 2 the Newpower Soul (Come 2gether)
Right on

Lemme see U get down
Newpower Soul
New Power Generation: Prince (vocals); Mike Scott (guitar); Mr. Hayes (keyboards); Rhonda Smith (bass); Kaj (drums); Marva King.
Additional personnel: Chaka Khan, Larry Graham (vocals); Doug E. Fresh (rap vocals); Kate Dyson (bottleneck acoustic guitar); Pierre Baptiste, Clark Gayton, Wayne du Main (horns); DJ Brother Jules (scratches).