I'm thinking stuff along the lines of Herbie Mann's Memphis Underground (dude rips it on the flute), Dorothy Ashby's Afro-Harping. Maybe some of Jean-Luc Ponty's stuff?
What else?
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 5 November 2007 17:40 (eighteen years ago)
I haven't heard Memphis Underground, but why is Herbie Mann playing the flute weird? That was his main instrument, right?
― jaymc, Monday, 5 November 2007 17:45 (eighteen years ago)
killer flute in Kool & The Gang's "Jungle Jazz"
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 5 November 2007 17:47 (eighteen years ago)
Not unusual in terms of Herbie Mann, I just mean it's unusual to hear a flute on, say, "Chain of Fools."
xpost
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 5 November 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)
I dunno if it's that weird considering the era, but I've always had lots of love for Maurice White's kalimba playing on Earth, Wind & Fire's seventies albums.
― Tuomas, Monday, 5 November 2007 17:52 (eighteen years ago)
http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/b/biggs_travi_challenge_101b.jpg
If you're looking for a novelty record, this one is a largely instrumental funk album where the lead instrument is Biggs's electric violin.
― Tuomas, Monday, 5 November 2007 17:56 (eighteen years ago)
It's not a great record or anything, but the violin sounds quite good in an R&B background, so it made me wonder why few others have tried the same.
If you like the Herbie Mann album, you should try this one:
http://www.soulstrut.com/images/reviews/crates/motown/Freedom-Sounds---People-Get.gif
It has both original soul jazz tunes and soul covers such as "Respect" and "People Get Ready" with Henderson's trombone leading. Good stuff all the way!
― Tuomas, Monday, 5 November 2007 18:13 (eighteen years ago)
the moog solo that opens "Blow Your Head", might actually blow your head
http://diddywah.lunarpages.net/pix/DamnRight.jpg
― jaxon, Monday, 5 November 2007 19:15 (eighteen years ago)
That album cover reminds me of Van Morrison's hideous Hard Nose The Highway cover.
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 5 November 2007 19:21 (eighteen years ago)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/jbs.jpg
Speaking of The J.B.'s and synths, this tune has a constant, ever-modulating synth riff that sounds like a 303 acid groove, even though the song is from 1979.
― Tuomas, Monday, 5 November 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)
Also, it's not a weird instrument per se, but back in the 70s Eddie Harris actually used to sing through his electric sax, providing a rather interesting vocal effect. Check out "I Don't Want Nobody", a 12-minute R&B ballad done in this way.
― Tuomas, Monday, 5 November 2007 20:56 (eighteen years ago)
Rufus Harley, yo!
― Michael Dudikoff presents Action Adventure Theatre, Monday, 5 November 2007 23:05 (eighteen years ago)
the violin sounds quite good in an R&B background, so it made me wonder why few others have tried the same.
Sly had a violin player on "Small Talk" (and, possibly, "High on You"?)
Parliament with bagpipes on one track on "Osmium" and harp (not harmonica) on another - tho neither track was exactly R&B.
I always hear a banjo on "One Nation Under a Groove"! Probably not there at all however!
― Tom D., Tuesday, 6 November 2007 09:51 (eighteen years ago)