SOLID BRONZE
THE FRUIT BASKET
SCHNITZEL RECORDS
PAPA’S BUG–INVISIBLE MAN–HARD TO KEEP THAT FAITH–SWANGIN–BRONZE MAGIC–MIDNITE GOOSE–MUMBO JUMBO–THE CRITTER–PARADISE LOUNGE–LIKE THAT OL’ SAYING GOES
Fans of vintage 70’s funk, soul, and R & B from folks such as George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown and Herbie Hancock will enjoy the latest from funkateers Solid Bronze, “The Fruit Basket.” The founding members of Solid Bronze are Ian Everett and George Miller, friends who grew up just outside the Trenton, NJ, area. On this uniquely-eclectic set, George worked up all the drum arrangements, while Ian handled all the bass, guitar, and lead vocal parts. The pair created these ten cuts by starting off with a drum/bass riff, gradually layering-in the other instrumentation and vocal parts. The set was produced by Mickey Melchiondo in his Lambertville, J, studio. A set of this magnitude practically begged for some guest stars, and guitarist Michael “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton as well as Morphine’s Dana Colley on sax are along for the ride!
The set plays out as one great big nasty funky throwdown, and begins by landing a roundhouse right to the corpulent jowls of the current administration–“can’t take the change,” “just don’t like his ties,” “Papa’s Bug.” A strong call-and-response chorus set over more socially-conscious lyrics drives “when you realize everything is a scam, It’s Hard To Keep That Faith.” The denizens of mythical radio station WGOOS urge us all to “get loose as a Midnite Goose,” while “Mumbo Jumbo” and “Paradise Lounge” recall the glory days of the “Superfly” soundtrack, Sly Stone, and Herbie Hancock.
For an old-school baller such as myself, Solid Bronze, with “The Fruit Basket,” was refreshing, uplifting, and welcomed. Hey–this proves that there’s still a lotta great funk that’s gotta hit the fan! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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