Brit funk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brit funk is a music style that has its origins in the British music scene of the late 1970s-80s. It mixes elements from funk and soul music with original jazz funk music and caribbean over tones.
An important stylistic element of brit funk is the dominant role of the bass guitar and choppy rhythm guitar. With a hard funky rhythm across between to james brown and earth wind and fire. The brit funk trend had its peak in the mid 80s
[edit] Brit Funk Bands
The Pioneers of Brit Funk was Hi Tension with smash hit British Hustle and Hi Tension. Hi Tension a band north west London started as Hot Waxx Which included Phil Fearon (Galaxy and Kandidate) and Lloyd Phillips brother of Paul (Kandidate) in the early '70's before becoming the famous Hi-Tension. The group comprised: Brothers Paul Mclean (lead guitar) Patrick Mclean (saxophone) Brothers David Joseph (keyboards / lead vocals) and Ken Joseph (bass guitar) uncle and nephew Jeffrey Guishard (percussion/ lead vocals) Leroy Williams (Congo’s) Paul Phillips (rhythm guitar / vocals) David Reid (drums) and Courtney Pine (sax player on tour)
Groups such as Light Of The World who were among the first after hi tension to have major hit records in UK and international charts. Incognito, who have continued to release albums since 1980, are probably the most successful band of that era. New Wave|pop|soul boy|brit soul rock bands could be considered part of the Brit-Funk movement of the '70s and '80s.
One of the most influential and commercially successful bands of the brit funk era was Level 42. Mark King, their lead singer and bass player, took up the slap and pop style created by artists like Larry Graham and Stanley Clarke brothers johnson and developed his own sound which became characteristic of the Level 42 sound.
Shakatak and Kajagoogoo are other examples of brit funk bands that had their peak in the 80s. The record companys and music press of the time wanted to change the face of brit funk so the soul Boy movement was started with bands like haircut 100 sounding very brit funkish and wham as a way to commercialize the music.
