Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2

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Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2 album cover
Album Information

Total Tracks: 3   Total Length: 64:17

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whew

Funkmeister

Chaotic, rough, loud, spontaneous, and approaching brilliance in places. This album is not easy to listen to... The funkiest bit is the first half of Funky Donkey, with awesome wahwah rhythm guitars, up to the big climax at the 11 minute mark. This is free funk, funk gone over the edge, a brilliant invention. After the midpoint of Funky Donkey the style changes to free jazz for the remainder of the album, and the funk pretty much disappears. Still an interesting listen, though, but the highlight of the album to me is the first bit.

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The title is most accurate

Librarian

The title is most accurate because this is one Funky Donkey indeed. Released as part of Atavistic's Unheard Music Series, this is in interesting blend of funk, fusion and free jazz. Think of one of Ornette Coleman's harmolodic funk ensembles with the Ayler brothers thrown in and you have an idea of what's going on here. This was recorded live and the musicians bring a lot of energy to the table taking brief themes and blasting them into the stratosphere. Thomas is joined by a great band, with Lester and Joseph Bowie on trumpet and trombone, J.D. Parran on reeds, Marvin Horne on guitar and Clerence "Bobo" Shaw on drums. The funk involved in the music is of a very organic, bluesy, electric-Miles nature, and allmusic guide compares it to going to a stomping gospel church. Regardless, labels don't really do this music proper justice. It may not be the most immaculately played or cleanly recorded, but it's music with heart and soul, and it's a lot of fun.

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They Say All Music Guide

Recorded in a church in 1973, this is one of the great lost albums of ’70s free jazz. The label “free,” though, is something of a misnomer. There’s structure here, just not a classical, rigid, “now it’s your turn” thing that binds so much of jazz. Here the structure is supplied by mutual respect and the kind of telepathy that only comes from long sessions and careful study of the rules before you break them. Sure, this stuff is loose, but it stomps, it sways, and, good Lord, it swings. Just the thing to get us into church. As an added note, Charles “Bobo” Shaw is, as always, a revelation. – Rob Ferrier