It’s Funky Friday: Tune in for a Day Full of Funk & Blues!

This record is the fruit of McBride’s long association with the Vanguard, where his first appearance as a leader for the historic club was in 1995. The group’s famous  “Car Wash” song is included!

Lou Donaldson “Everything I Do Is Gonna Be Funky” | $120 or $10/month

This album highlights Donaldson’s limber and fluid funk and R&B-driven soul-jazz. These unique grooves will stick in your mind and ear alike.

Fred Wesley “Wuda-Cuda-Shuda” | $120 or $10/month

Recorded during a European tour in the fall of 2002, this album retains funky rhythms (courtesy of drummer Bruce Cox and bass player Michael Mondesir) in a somewhat more stripped-down form than  heard in Wesley’s earlier bands.

This time, the focus is on the horns, featuring Wesley, saxophonist Ernie Fields Jr., and trumpeter Gary Winters.

Poncho Sanchez with Tower of Power  “Do It” | $120 or $10/month

Sanchez delivers another stellar and high-energy release with his longtime ensemble. This album also includes appearances by funk legends Tower of Power, who play throughout, as well as South African jazz/funk legend trumpeter Hugh Masekela.

“Do It!” delivers an electrifying mix of dance floor-ready pieces, modal Afro-jazz numbers, and Latin-inflected funk.

Godfather of Groove with Bill Easley “3” | $120 or $10/month

On their third album, Godfathers of Groove mix it up a bit more within the soul-jazz arena, playing interpretations of pop tunes, some straight-ahead jazz, originals, and in essence the funky music that is at the core of their identities.

This album has many high moments, including the delightfully rendered “The Funkster,”  the solid-sending feeds of  “Groove On”, and the be clockwork rhythms of “Monkey Milk.”

Information and text from mackavenue.com, wikipedia.org, and allmusic.com.