License to Funk
| License to Funk | ||||
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| Studio album by Nils Landgren Funk Unit | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | ACT | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
12 |
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running time |
63:52 |
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Studio (s) |
Atlantis Studios Stockholm by Ranne Hansson from April 10th to 13th 2007 and by Stefan Boman on April 14th 2007 |
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License to Funk is a funk jazz album by Nils Landgren Funk Unit that was recorded and released in 2007.
background
License to Funk is the eighth album by the Nils Landgren Funk Unit. Nils Landgren succeeded in winning the funk guitarist Ray Parker Jr. , who had retired from the music business in the late 1990s, for the album, after he had already worked with Landgren and Joe Sample on an album project in 2005 .
The album pays homage to the funk of the 1970s and contains cover pieces such as House Party by Fred Wesley or Quincy Jones Stuff Like That as well as Stix Hoopers Brazos River Breakdown. The album also features original compositions by Landgren and other band members. Despite the cover versions and the borrowings from the music of the 1970s, the album should not be considered a retro album.
reception
Christian Genzel rated the album at allmusic with three and a half stars out of five and wrote:
“Despite the three cover tunes and the large number of comparisons the music brings to mind, License to Funk is neither a full retro album nor a slavish imitation of all those acts - the Funk Unit is in top form, with tightly locked grooves and inspired soloing, and the record is an excellent showcase for a band that knows how to use a funk rhythm as a springboard to exciting interplay. While all of the musicians are great […], Ray Parker, Jr.'s presence is what gives the group that something extra: listening to his opening guitar licks on Freak U and the bluesy Secre t alone makes you glad he's back. ”
“Despite the three cover versions and the large number of comparisons the music brings to mind, License to Funk is neither a full retro album nor a slavish imitation of all of these pieces - the Funk Unit is in top shape, with tightly packed Grooves and inspired solos, and the record is an excellent example of a band how to use a funk rhythm as a springboard to exciting interplay. Even though all the musicians are great [...], the charisma of Ray Parker Jr. gives the group that certain something: just hearing his opening guitar licks on Freak U and the bluesy Secret makes you happy that he's back. "
In 2009 License to Funk received, among other things, a platinum record (Jazz Award) for over 20,000 units sold in Germany. The album is one of the best-selling jazz albums in Germany .
Album pieces
- House Party 5:05 ( Fred Wesley )
- Freak U 4:34 ( Magnum Coltrane Price )
- 24 Hours 4:30 (Nils Landgren)
- Stuff Like That 5:39 ( Quincy Jones , Nick Ashford , Valerie Simpson )
- Slowfoot 5:49 ( Wolfgang Haffner )
- Capetown Shuffle 5:51 (Nils Landgren)
- At Home 5:21 (Ray Parker Jr.)
- Secret 4:40 (Ida Sundland)
- Samplerayt 5:40 ( Ida Sandlund )
- For Those Who Like to Party 4:25 (Ida Sandlund)
- Brazos River Breakdown 5:10 ( Stix Hooper )
- Tomomis Tune 6:57 (Magnum Coltrane Price)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Nils Landgren Funk Unit - License to Funk. Retrieved June 20, 2014 .
- ↑ GOLD / PLATINUM database. musikindustrie.de, accessed on August 13, 2020 .