Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat, electrified sounds,[1] and analog synthesizers. The integration of funk, soul, and R&B music and styles into jazz resulted in the creation of a genre that ranges from pure jazz improvisation to soul, funk or disco with jazz arrangements, jazz riffs, jazz solos, and sometimes soul vocals.[2] Jazz-funk was popular in United States and United Kingdom. Similar genres include soul jazz, jazz fusion and acid jazz.
| Jazz-funk | |
|---|---|
 Herbie Hancock, one of the pioneers of jazz-funk | |
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Late 1960s – 1970s, United States |
| Subgenres | |
| Free funk | |
| Other topics | |
| Jazz fusion, rare groove | |
History
editJazz-funk exhibits several distinctive characteristics. A first characteristic of jazz funk has simple structure based around one or two riffs, and second characteristic of jazz funk has a harmonic structure that allows musicians to improvise.[3] Modern jazz funk music was influenced by Herbie Hancock.[4] The Mizell Brothers were producers for many jazz and soul artists. Examples of early jazz funk albums include Miles Davis' On the Corner (1972)[5] and Jimmy Smith's Root Down (1972).[6] The Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron, Lightnin' Rod, T.S. Monk, Pleasure, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Lenny White, Don Blackman, Monk Higgins, Wilbur Bascomb,[7] the Blackbyrds, Donald Byrd and Les DeMerle[8] and Michael Henderson[9] released jazz funk albums.
Jazz funk musicians used electric instruments, such as the Rhodes Piano or electric guitar, bass guitar, organ, particularly in jazz fusion.[10] Herbie Hancock played ARP Odyssey synthesizer and clavinet on album Head Hunters (1973).[11] Jennifer Lopez popularized "jazz funk dance" in the sketch comedy In Living Color.[12]
The controversy may have helped jazz find a larger audience.[13] By contrast, pop audiences found it "too jazzy" and, therefore, too complex.[14]
Some mainstream artists in jazz used specialist producers to commercial success. Larry and Fonce Mizell[15] produced jazz-funk artists such as Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Gary Bartz, Roger Glenn, the Blackbyrds, and Donald Byrd.[16]
UK jazz funk
editIn the UK's nightclubs of the mid-late 1970s, DJs including Colin Curtis in Manchester, Birmingham's Graham Warr and Shaun Williams, and Leeds-based Ian Dewhirst and Paul Schofield championed the genre, along with Chris Hill and Bob Jones in the South.[17]
London-based jazz funk pioneers drew a new audience to jazz: notably pirate radio stations Invicta 92.4 and JFM. In the late 1980s, rare groove crate diggers–DJs in England who were interested in looking back into the past and re-discovering old tunes–Norman Jay and Gilles Peterson achieved prominence.[18]
While the majority of jazz-funk bands are American, British jazz-funk artists and bands emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[19] They were encouraged by club DJs such as Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent, who was then on BBC Radio London, and Greg Edwards, who had a show on London's first commercial radio station, Capital Radio. They launched a jazz festival in 1980, where the jazz-funk band Light of the World performed.[20] Jazz-funk was also played on Europe's first soul station, Radio Invicta, and pirate radio stations such as Solar Radio, Horizon, and Kiss FM.[21] The first of these bands to establish a UK identity was Light of the World, formed by Kenny Wellington,[22] Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick and other musicians.
Acid jazz is jazz genre, but its emphasis on groove just like funk, hip hop, and club dance music.[23] Incognito, The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, and the James Taylor Quartet helped the acid jazz movement surge in popularity. UK group US3 signed to Acid Jazz Records, founded by Peterson and Eddie Piller. US3 covered "Cantaloupe Island", originally recorded by Herbie Hancock.[24]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Napster: The Music Service for Music Fans". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
- ^ "Jazz | Significant Albums, Artists and Songs". AllMusic. 2013-11-24. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
- ^ "Jazz funk". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ herbie-hancocks-influence・・・ Medium. 9 August 2024
- ^ Freeman, Philip (2005). Running the Voodoo Down: The Electric Music of Miles Davis. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 10, 178. ISBN 1-61774-521-9.
- ^ "Root Down". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Wilbur Bascomb Retrieved 20 June 2023
- ^ Les DeMerle at Allmusic. Retrieved 20 June 2023
- ^ Erlewine, Michael, ed. (1997). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music. AMG All Music Guides. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 88, 208. ISBN 978-0-87930-475-1.
- ^ Miles and the invention・・・ sweetwater.com Retrieved 10 August 2024
- ^ The Iconic Sounds Of Synthesis: Herbie Hancock's Chameleon Bassline synthtopia.com Retrieved=2024-8-10
- ^ "Remember when J.Lo was a 'Fly Girl'?". New York Post. 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
- ^ Article referring to Donald Byrd the Mizell Brothers from John Murph in JazzTimes magazine dated April 04
- ^ Journal of American Culture, Art vs. the Audience: The Paradox of Modern Jazz, by R Francesconi, winter 1981, also see article "Films from the Young-Man-with-a-Horn Genre" form the journal of macro marketing by Coulumbia uni' MN Holbrook
- ^ "Blue Note Records". Archived from the original on June 14, 2006.
- ^ Black byrd tidal.com Retrieved 30 July 2024
- ^ Cotgrove, Mark (2009). Mark Cotgrove, From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz: The History of the UK Jazz Dance Scene. Chaser Publications. ISBN 978-1-4389-7360-9.
- ^ "BBC – Radio 1 – Gilles Peterson – Biography". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ "Soulies - The story of club soul in Britain". August 31, 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-08-31.
- ^ "A secret history of UK dance – how black Brit funk shaped the acid revolution".
- ^ "The Story of Soul Music Radio in the U.K". Archived from the original on May 19, 2006.
- ^ "Featured Content on Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
- ^ "Acid Jazz Music Genre Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Us3 Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.