Funk Reaction: Vinyl LP
MRBLP298Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Mr Bongo
Release Date: 24th May
Lonnie baby, smashing out some mean sexy funk on this collection of early 70s recordings, which has a title track that has grooves that make us weak at the knees and wondering whether we could body pop. Jazz funk at it's finest from one of the greats.
Dripping with groove and swagger, this album skates between jazz-funk, cosmic
disco radiance, beat-laden slow-jams and conscious psychedelic soul.
Having played with the likes of George Benson and Lou Donaldson in the '60s,
alongside releasing a string of albums on Columbia and Blue Note, Funk Reaction
sees Smith move into late '70s disco-funk-tinged territory.
Originally released on Sonny Lester's Groove Merchant Records successor,
Lester Radio Corporation, the album feels more like a collaborative band
orientated project as opposed to a solo artist outing. Featuring some elite
session players of the time, including Steve Gadd on drums, guitarist Lance
Quinn and bassist Bob Babbitt , the album is tied together expertly by
songwriter, arranger and conductor Brad Baker.
It's worth the price tag alone for the superb disco-funk nugget 'Funk Reaction'.
Other highlights include the only Lonnie Smith penned track on the album 'All In
My Mind', that shines with a beautiful Stevie Wonder-esque quality and the slick
guitar- led floater 'When The Night Is Right', written by and featuring guitarist
Richie Hohenburger. Elsewhere, 'For The Love Of It' and the Brad Babbitt written
'Babbitt's Other Song' serve up classic jazz funk favours, both featuring stellar
tenor saxophone from Eddie Daniels.
As a whole, the album is a superb example of Lonnie Smith's ability to merge jazz
with elements of funk, soul, disco and beyond, experimenting with ideas whilst
broadening the scope of both his audience and appeal. Fans of The Blackbyrds,
the CTI / Kudu stable and '70s George Benson will dig this!
- Funk Reaction
- For The Love Of It
- Babbitt's Other Song
- It's Changed
- When The Night Is Right
- All In My Mind