1997 CD of The Year – ‘Music Evolution’ – Buckshot LeFonque aka Branford Marsailas, 1997 CD of The Year – ‘Music Evolution’ – Buckshot LeFonque aka Branford Marsailas, 1997 CD of The Year – ‘Music Evolution’ – Buckshot LeFonque aka Branford Marsailas,
A history lesson for both younger and older music fans. In reality the title says it all (shooting the FUNK everywhere) as Branford Marsailas takes us all to school with this masterpiece.
One comment I hear over and over again about this album is that it is "uneven". I think that what they are really trying to say is that "Music Evolution doesnÂ’t really fit nicely into any one genre & since I consider myself to be a fan of a particular genre, I canÂ’t really groove with about ½ of the album" What this is saying to me is that Branford has not only reached and touched his intended target but that he also understads the true meaning of what FUNK is.!!
This album didnÂ’t sell very well, itÂ’s almost impossible to slot it into any radio format that I am aware currently. However, if we had such a thingas "Funk Radio", thatÂ’s where it would fit.
He understands where we are today is a product of where we have come from and that "there really is NOTHING new"
His use of the monikier "LeFouque" is no mistake either.
He knows that "funk" is a blend of soul + jazz + rock nÂ’ roll + blues with some gospel, latin & reggae thrown in for some spiceÂ…Â…with a message attached to it….:)
….& thatÂ’s just what this album is !!
Track Listing For Our Album Of The Year
1. Here We Go Again – jazz/hip hop – "the second installment" where cool meets the hot & blows up the spot.
2. Music Evolution – jazz/hip hop "because it is an ill format". This song is radical enough to refer to Cab Calloway as a "dope emcee". HowÂ’s that for a perspective ? Elvis, Louis Armstrong, and the KKK all in same song ?
3. Wasineveritis – intro to the next song
4. James Brown PartÂ’s 1 & 2 – soul/jazz "retro" indeed nice tribute to the "originator" & it sounds like 1972 all over again.
5. Another Day – "smooth jazz/todayÂ’s r&b, nice vocals in a "stevie wonderish " sorta way. A whole album of this type of material would be a big hit with the "smooth jazz" crowd.
6. Try These On – soul/jazz/hip hop, bouncy in a 1970Â’s "CTI ish" kinda way. Sounds like something that could easily have appeared on a Grover Washington or Brecker Brothers LP back in the day. I guess today they might call this one "acid jazz" ?
7. A Buckshot Rebuttal – Branford talking about the "mainstream communityÂ’s" refusal to understand the "hip hop" grooves of "Buckshot" and the "hip hop" communityÂ’s refusal to understand the jazz grooves of the first Buckshot" album.
8. My Way (Doin It) – jazz/rock nÂ’ roll/hip hop, slamin rock tune done in a "Mandrillish" kinda way. They even manage to give some props to Frank SinatraÂ…..LOLÂ…Â…"Buckshot for presidentÂ…Â…"
9. Better Than I Am – soul/jazz, This song could easily apear on an album by Teddy Penegrass, Luther Vandross or Will Downing. Nice love song
10. Paris Is Burning – spoken word intro to "Jungle Groove"
11. Jungle Groove – latin/jazz, now this acoustic cut with a latin tinge really burnsÂ…Â….the mood is that of a really HOT jazz club that you might see in a 1950Â’s movie or TV show where the "hero" walks in and is looking for the "suspect". This is straight up acoustic jazz, but itÂ’s being played so fast & furious, that it sounds like FUNK. I love this one !! Â….."fasten your seat belt kidÂ…"
12. Weary With Toil – synth/jazz/ I donÂ’t really care what category to put this song is in, all I know is that it is :"ultra/super /erotic/nasty/funky !!
13. Black Monday – jazz/hip hop/gospel, this is perhaps the most interesting cut on the album (itÂ’s also what you are hearing a sample of right now if you have Win 95/NT !!). The song is about the Million Man March and the message is one of unity….. "not knowledge of wealth ……but knowledge of self"
14. Phoenix – gospel/jazz/soul
15. Samba Hop – hip hop/latin/jazz/everythang, great song Â…..PERIOD I can not describe this song !!!!!!!!!!!!
16. …And We Out – talk about a song with a "false ending", this song has a false beginning….LOL
I wonder how many people with the album have never even heard it ???
It’s straight no chaser jazz.
