S. BOLA OKOYA
George Clinton performs at NJPAC in Newark, Nov. 14.
The title of the “Tribute to Funk!” concert that took place at NJPAC in Newark, Nov. 14, didn’t really do it justice.
We live in an era, after all, when any time one band plays the music of another band, it is called a tribute. And this concert was more than that, featuring, among many other performers, George Clinton, who happens to be one of the genre’s primary architects. “The funkmeister himself!,” in the words of the show’s musical director, Ray Chew.
Clinton, who was born in North Carolina but grew up in New Jersey, made only a brief appearance during the first half of the show, joining Chew’s house band for “P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up).” But at the end of the second half, he brought the evening to a delirious peak (see video below) by leading about 25 other musicians through a medley of the Parliament-Funkadelic songs “Flash Light,” “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” “One Nation Under a Groove,” “Atomic Dog” and “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker).”
He and the band were joined in this truly grand finale by many of the evening’s other featured performers, including singers Nona Hendryx (of Labelle), Bilal and L*A*W, guitarist Vernon Reid (of Living Colour) and bassist Christian McBride.
(Hendryx was also there when Clinton celebrated his 80th birthday at NJPAC in 2022; Reid was on that ’22 bill but couldn’t make the show itself, due to illness. Clinton is now 83.)
S. BOLA OKOYA
Ray Chew at NJPAC.
The event — which was part of this year’s edition of the annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival — had one other special guest: tap-dance master and Newark native Savion Glover, who took over for his own mini-set in the second half of the show, providing a whirlwind of funky percussion with his feet while also gruffly rapping. (Given that he never stopped dancing, it was amazing that he could rap at all.)
Chew — who served as the evening’s high-spirited host in addition to leading the house band, and adding keyboards and vocals to the musical mix — introduced the show as both a “party” and a survey of funk styles “from all over the country: from the West Coast, East Coast, Down South … everywhere.”
He also promised that “every song we do tonight, you’re gonna know.” And, indeed, it seemed like the crowd responded enthusiastically to every opening riff.
The band was anchored by Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun, and featured a five-piece horn section. As an example of West Coast funk, they played The Brothers Johnson’s 1977 hit “Strawberry Letter 23,” with Reid taking a scintillating solo. Ohio was represented by a medley of the Ohio Players hits “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire”; Minneapolis, by Prince’s “Kiss” (featuring Bilal).
Other songs performed in the course of the evening included Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Sly & the Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” Tower of Power’s “What Is Hip?” and Rufus’ “Tell Me Something Good” (sung by Hendryx).
The Gap Band’s “Yearning for Your Love” seemed a bit sluggish, but that was a rare letdown in a concert that otherwise stayed intense from beginning to end.
S. BOLA OKOYA
Nona Hendryx at NJPAC.
Hendryx also belted out another Sly & the Family Stone number, “Sing a Simple Song,” while Bilal showcased his powerful falsetto on Temptations member Eddie Kendricks’ 1973 solo hit “Girl You Need a Change of Mind.” Reid also played on “Sing a Simple Song” and the sumptuous Earth, Wind & Fire ballad “Can’t Hide Love.” (see videos of “Sing a Simple Song” and “Girl You Need a Change of Mind”/”Kiss,” below)
McBride, who has deep funk roots in addition to being one of the world’s greatest jazz bass players (and NJPAC’s artistic advisor for jazz programming), joined the band for James Brown’s “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.” This segued into what Chew called a “journey,” with McBride leading the band through excerpts from various songs, including The O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money,” The Commodores’ “Brick House” and another Brown song, “Doing It to Death (Gonna Have a Funky Good Time).”
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The show also included an acknowledgement of the recent announcement that Clinton’s “…And Your Ass Will Follow” has been nominated for a 2025 Grammy in the Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording category. The audio book was released by the Newark-based Audible company, and includes music recorded at the 80th birthday concert at NJPAC that was mentioned above.
Clinton has never won a Grammy, unless you count the honorary Lifetime Achievement Grammy Parliament-Funkadelic was given in 2019. It would be kind of ironic if he won for an audio book, though he really doesn’t have much of a chance, as the other nominees include Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton and Jimmy Carter.
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The TD James Moody Jazz Festival continues through Nov. 24. For information, visit njpac.org/series/james-moody-jazz-festival.
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