B3 BOMBERS
LIVE At the Green Mill (Alltribe Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Led by Chicago organist Dan Trudell, the B3 Bombers are more expansive than the typical organ combo, both in their lineup and their performance. The seven piece unit includes a pair of saxophones, a trombonist, a guitarist and a rap-poet along with the eponymous Hammond, and all have something special to share with the listener, but it's all glued together by the presence of none other than the original Funky Drummer himself, Mr. Clyde Stubblefield.

If any among you don't know (and it's unfortunately true that some of you won't) who Clyde Stubblefield is, I refer you to that James Brown's greatest hits collections that you surely own a copy of. Mother Popcorn, Cold Sweat, Funky Drummer, Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud) and Give It Up Or Turn It Loose will certainly be on there (or should be). The beat that defines the funk? That's Clyde Stubblefield.

Stubblefield provides the beat that defines the funk for the B3 Bombers as well, but they're a bit more adventurous than the term "funk band" would indicate. With extended solos and a pair of impressive vocal turns from Stubblefield, the music ranges from straight ahead to soul jazz to tough blues and beyond, but remains rooted in a strong soulful groove. With the shortest track coming in at seven and a half minutes, every member of the band is encouraged to stretch out, and the results are uniformly impressive. LIVE At The Green Mill is a meeting of masters, and you'll want to be in attendance.

Track List:

Surrey Lane * Make It Funky * It's All Good * Columbus Day * Sweet 16 * The Seventh Dwarf * Baskin' In It

© 2003 - Shaun Dale