CD Review / Papa
Grows Funk / Shakin'
(Funky Krewe Records)
by John Swenson • offBEAT • May 2003
Papa Grows Funk is a musical collective,
but it was keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter John Gros who put this all
star lineup together for a regular Monday residence at the Old Point
Bar in Algiers back at the turn of the century. Gros, one of the fast-rising
stars on the New Orleans neo-funk scene, organized the gig together with
the phenomenal drummer/songwriter Russell Batiste, Jr., Japanese superstar
guitarist June Yamagishi of the Wild Magnolias, outstanding former Galactic
saxophonist Jason Mingledorff and two of the finest bassists in New Orleans,
Marc Pero from Smilin Myron and Peter V. from Cyril Neville's band. Gros
himself is a veteran of George Porter, Jr.'s band (in which he played
with Batiste), Mulebone and countless sessions. At first the aggregation
was a true jamband playing a new kind of New Orleans funk, leaning toward
rock. It was half original, half covers, Meters songs, "Chameleon," Bill
Withers tunes, with loose arrangements and a lot of hot soloing. Doin'
It, which came out in 2001, reflected those strengths.
The band has grown in leaps and bounds over the ensuing two years. The
new PGF album, Shakin', demonstrates the band's rapid development since
the first album with 13 originals, all written to be played by this group
of musicians. Shakin' ranks with the classic funk recordings in the New
Orleans canon by the group's parent bands. Everybody contributed to the
songwriting and arrangements. Batiste sets the tone with the churning "Mutha
Funk Y'All," with its tart turnaround and catchy, chanted chorus.
Batiste's compositional groove extends to "Say B'uh (I Jus' Playin')" and
the pumping march "Soul Second Line," which has become a popular
audience participation number. Mingledorff collaborated with Batiste on
the album closer, "Big Wind," and brought the solid instrumental "Yakiniku" and "Sit
On This" to the mix. Yamagishi wrote the guitaristic "Slinky
Snake" and Marc Pero wrote "Fish-Eyed Fool."
Gros contributed several originals to the album, which features his vocals
prominently. The inspirational "If I..." and "House of Love" feature
lyrics by his older brother Ward Gros. "He has a collection of lyrics
and poetry that he writes and I just go through 'em," said John, who
wrote both music and lyrics for "Rat a Tang Tang," the song on
the album that most quickly imprints itself on the listener. The stinging
lyric with its sing-along chorus sounds like hit material. "Rat a
tang tang gonna make me scream," sings Gros, "I'm done with Y.O.U."
Papa Grows Funk is the New School of New Orleans Funk and Shakin' is the
kind of album that codifies a band's place in history.
Hai Douzo!