Basics - Rhythm - Funk 4

Fourplay

I listed them as a great crossover for most people who cannot get past pop and want to get started on jazz. Smooth jazz is a very common reincarnation of what jazz is like. However if you listen to it, it does not have the hallmarks of funk of the "grooving" I was talking about.

What does that mean? I did mention I was going to talk about more poppish versions of funk didn't I? This is funk like how Michael Jackson did it - completely in time. This gave you an exact groove and exact pulse that you couldn't miss it unless you really have no concept of rhythm.

Same strong back beat groove from the drums, and the same repetitive bass groove and one which actually matches the bass drum in this scenario. This is funk in smooth jazz - the "pop" side of jazz which is meant to appeal to the general masses, much like all those random smooth jazz tracks you hear from shops like That CD Shop and those kind of music which sounds high class but probably has no artistic value ironically.

Okay I shouldn't slam this down too hard. It is a great crossover without the most important elements of truly good music (as opposed to Stacey Kent) because of the lack of rhythmic ideas. Thus poppish reincarnation of funk. This is actually one of the most common reincarnations because smooth jazz being so popular has generated a rather large audience and of course that also means quite a number of bands taking up this sound.



Maroon 5

Obviously funk-inspired, Maroon 5 is one of those gems in pop music that makes you really enjoy the groove because it actually exists.

Firstly, I have to say the drummer has got the groove down-pat, he laid back from the first beat, and he was the guy who started the whole sound. Bassist lays back slightly less than him, and the guitarist comes slightly on top of the beat. Pianist is also leaning back slightly.

Backbeat groove, repetitive bassline with laid back sound, repetitive guitar funk lines and a repetitive piano line. However the whole way through there's a lot of push pull and a lot of grooving, keeping the music going. Rhythm wise this is not really pushing the boundaries because it is just a swung funk with a bit of variations. However when you match the vocalist and the sound of the music (production is very much the sound of "pop" rather than funk with emphasis on the vocals and drums) you get something that can really sell.

What's more is the sweet fact that the chorus is almost completely off beat which is a great pushing factor for their music to actually have a drive despite the slow laid back funk groove.

That marks the end of the rhythm of funk. =)