Jazz-Funk often treads the line between experimental Fusion and poppy Disco, though it generally maintains a tight, electrified sound resting on a base of repetitive rhythms. Jazz artists began combining crisp backbeats and jazzy arrangements in the 1950s and '60s, leading to a style that arguably reached its peak in the '70s. Often influenced by the work of James Brown, Jazz-Funk brought jazz fans back to their feet with music as danceable as Swing. Vibraphonist Roy Ayers and trumpeter Donald Byrd brought Hard Bop soloing into smoldering grooves that climbed up the charts much faster than the work of their tradition-oriented jazz peers. Modern groups such as Medeski, Martin & Wood infuse the Jazz-Funk spirit with new sonorities, and hip-hop artists continually revive forgotten classics with finely looped sampling.
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1.
Chantes Des Femmes
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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2.
So Very Hard To Go
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Tower of Power
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3.
Watermelon Man
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Herbie Hancock
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4.
You're Still A Young Man
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Tower of Power
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5.
Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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6.
Stitched Up
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Herbie Hancock
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7.
Kota
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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8.
Bitter
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Me'Shell Ndegeocello
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9.
Anonymous Skulls
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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10.
Rockit
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Herbie Hancock
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11.
What Is Hip
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Tower of Power
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12.
Undone
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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13.
Fool Of Me
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Me'Shell Ndegeocello
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14.
Wonton
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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15.
Walking In Rhythm
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The Blackbyrds
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16.
Walk Back
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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17.
Chameleon
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Herbie Hancock
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18.
Hardgroove
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The Rh Factor
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19.
More Than This
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Charlie Hunter
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20.
Jean's Scene
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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21.
Gwyra Mi
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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22.
Since I Fell For You
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Ramsey Lewis
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23.
Funkin' For Jamaica
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Tom Browne
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24.
I Like It
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Brand New Heavies
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25.
Broken Mirror
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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26.
Sun Goddess
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Ramsey Lewis
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27.
Beijos (The Kiss)
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Bob Baldwin
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28.
Searching
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Roy Ayers
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29.
Beautiful
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Me'Shell Ndegeocello
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30.
Free featuring Corinne Bailey Rae
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Marcus Miller
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31.
Court And Spark
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Herbie Hancock
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32.
Order My Steps
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Galactic
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33.
Too Late (Remix)
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Bob Baldwin
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34.
A Go Go
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John Scofield
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35.
Never Stop
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Brand New Heavies
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36.
Everybody's Beautiful (In Brazil)
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Bob Baldwin
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37.
Sugarcraft
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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38.
Jump N' Move (2006 Remastered Lp Version)
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Brand New Heavies
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39.
River (Featuring Corinne Bailey Rae)
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Herbie Hancock
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40.
A Song For You
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Herbie Hancock
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41.
Peel Me A Grape
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Ramsey Lewis
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42.
Running Away
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Roy Ayers
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43.
Everybody Loves The Sunshine
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Roy Ayers
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44.
The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms)
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Herbie Hancock
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45.
Oh Happy Day (Remix) (Radio Single)
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Ramsey Lewis
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46.
Shine It
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Medeski, Martin and Wood
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47.
Festival De Ritmo
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Dave Weckl
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48.
The Bottle
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Gil Scott-Heron
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49.
Tower Of Inspiration
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Dave Weckl
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50.
Mothership Connection
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George Duke
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Charlie Hunter
Charlie Hunter is an
innovative jazz musician
whose eight-string guitar
allows him to play bass and
guitar at the same time. Jo...
Donald Byrd
Byrd's trumpet has blown
everything from Hard Bop
to gold-selling Funk and he's
now a revered Acid Jazz
Godfather. Byrd came to...
Eddie Harris
Harris' funked-up, roots-of
Acid Jazz saxophone
always rides the groove
directly to cold duck time.
George Duke
This smooth jazz
keyboardist has put funk,
soul and pop into the mix
since the 1970s. A
mainstream smooth jazz f...
Herbie Hancock
One of the few geniuses of
modern jazz, Hancock has
had a hand in avant-garde
Post Bop, Hard Bop, Jazz
Funk and more. Hancock...
John Scofield
John Scofield's blend of
arty rock and funky Soul
Jazz guitar has remained
fresh and vital for years. A
modern, rock influenced...
Les McCann
McCann excels at playing
deep, extended jazz piano
ballads and funked-up
dancefloor jams. He's a
soulful vocalist. In the yea...
Lonnie Liston Smith
A cosmically funky
keyboardist, Smith's '70s
Fusion work is like
watching a movie called
"Shaft in Outer Space."
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is the
preeminent Jazz-Funk
saxophonist. Parker earned
his Funk stripes playing alto
sax with James Brown, Ge...
Marcus Miller
This fusion bassist is also an
in demand jazz and R&B
producer.
Medeski, Martin and Wood
With roots in straight-ahead
jazz, MMW has steadily
evolved with new
dimensions in jazz and
electronica. MMW is orga...
Roy Ayers
The godfather of Soul-rich
Acid Jazz, Ayers'
vibraphone can also spin
out rich, complex Hard Bop
lines.
Stanley Clarke
An admired and copied
musician, the bass-plucking
Clarke helped spearhead
Fusion and also excels at
classic jazz. Clarke was p...
The Crusaders
Led by pianist Joe Sample
and saxophonist Wilton
Felder, the Crusaders have
thrived for over four
decades. They were call...
- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.