Blue Note Funk: Steady Groovin'

During the nineties and early noughties (Koen sez), the famous jazz label Blue Note Records added a bit more FUNK into their records.

Their reissue programs included a Lost Grooves compilation, the Rare Grooves series, and a four disc set of Blue Break Beats, which became highly popular in some of the jazz clubs.

For new recordings, veteran guitar slinger John Scofield delivered some serious funky licks.

Newcomer Charlie Hunter did a great job as well.  Whether with a Trio or Quartet, his guitar playing was cookin’.

Soulive was a grooving jazz trio with a guitarist, drummer, and Hammond organist who maintained a tight beat throughout most of their work.

Medeski, Martin & Wood (another trio) already had a few albums under their belts before joining Blue Note, where they continued developing their sense of funky grooves.

The former Greyboy Allstars frontman Karl Denson plays a mean sax producing dance-inducing, driving grooves.

The above artists recorded several albums for Blue Note (except Denson, who had only one).  Here’s a sampler to give you some idea of their work. We hope you enjoy Steady Groovin'!