Funky Friday – Episode 77: Back To The Junkyard
- Noah McDonough
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
🎧 Quick Links:
🎧 Listen live on KDOG 9 AM Pacific Time→ Here
🎧 Listen live on KCSM HD2 9 PM Pacific Time→ Here (On mobile, scroll down to the KCSM HD2 player)
📆 Add to Calendar — Funky Friday (Weekly):
• 9 AM KDOG
Add to Google Calendar
• 9 PM KCSM HD2
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📖 Full Episode Recaps + Setlists → Here
📻 Renegade Radio Site → Here
Airdate: 7.24.26 - 9 AM Pacific Time on KDOG & 9 PM Pacific Time on KCSM HD2
Funky Friday – Episode 77: Back To The Junkyard
Happy Friday and welcome back to the junkyard!
Not the kind filled with rusted cars and broken machinery. The kind filled with forgotten records, hidden album cuts, deep grooves, and musical ideas waiting to be discovered.
Every crate has a story. Every dusty sleeve hides another masterpiece.
Some records became household names. Others quietly influenced generations of musicians before disappearing into the stacks.
This week, we're digging a little deeper.
Our journey takes us through the years when jazz musicians plugged in, funk artists stretched out, and the boundaries between genres began to disappear.
Trumpets met synthesizers.
Acoustic bass gave way to electric virtuosity.
Fender Rhodes pianos, Clavinets, wah pedals, and analog synthesizers became the new building blocks of modern music.
Some people saw a pile of discarded parts.
These artists saw possibility.
So grab a flashlight.
This is episode 77 and there's treasure buried in this junkyard.
Signal Discovery
Every great musical movement has its defining moments.
This week's featured performance captures one of them.
Recorded during Herbie Hancock's legendary Headhunters era, this electrifying live rendition of Hang Up Your Hang Ups showcases a band operating at the height of its creative powers. Before the groove begins, Herbie introduces the musicians who helped shape one of the most influential periods in jazz-funk.
On stage are guitarist Wah Wah Watson, bassist Paul Jackson, drummer James Levi, and multi-instrumentalist Bennie Maupin, whose Lyricon, tenor saxophone, and soprano saxophone helped expand the sonic vocabulary of modern fusion.
What follows is fourteen minutes of fearless improvisation, deep pocket, and musical conversation. The camera work, vintage synthesizers, and unmistakable 1970s aesthetic make it feel like stepping directly into the workshop where jazz and funk were being rebuilt into something entirely new.
Before we head back to the junkyard, spend a few minutes with one of the genre's true master builders.
Watch the performance below and experience Hang Up Your Hang Ups as it was meant to be heard.
Funky Friday – Episode 76: Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
🔥 SETLIST + RENEGADE NOTES
QUINCY JONES — Streetbeater (1974)
Personnel: Tommy Morgan (bass harmonica), Quincy Jones (composer, arranger, conductor), Dave Grusin (electric piano), Chuck Rainey (bass), James Gadson (drums), Phil Woods (alto saxophone), Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone).
Renegade Note: Best known as the unforgettable theme from Sanford and Son, Streetbeater is a masterclass in sophisticated groove. Its instantly recognizable bass harmonica melody, layered horn arrangements, and impeccable studio musicianship demonstrate Quincy Jones' extraordinary ability to blend jazz, soul, and funk into something entirely original.
THE BLACKBYRDS — Rock Creek Park (1975)
Personnel: Kevin Toney (keyboards), Barney Perry (guitar), Joe Hall (bass), Keith Killgo (drums), Allan Barnes (saxophone, flute), Orville Saunders (trumpet). Produced by Donald Byrd.
Renegade Note: Formed by legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd while teaching at Howard University, The Blackbyrds became one of jazz-funk's defining groups. Rock Creek Park combines polished musicianship with an irresistible groove, creating a recording that has remained a favorite of DJs, crate diggers, and hip-hop producers for nearly five decades.
MILES DAVIS — Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (1969)
Personnel: Miles Davis (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (soprano saxophone), Chick Corea (electric piano), Joe Zawinul (electric piano), John McLaughlin (guitar), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Bennie Maupin (bass clarinet), Don Alias (percussion), Jim Riley (percussion).
Renegade Note: Recorded during the groundbreaking Bitches Brew sessions, Miles Runs the Voodoo Down helped redefine modern jazz. By embracing electric instruments, rock rhythms, and hypnotic grooves, Miles Davis opened the door to the jazz-fusion movement that followed.
FREDDIE HUBBARD — Windjammer (1976)
Personnel: Freddie Hubbard (flugelhorn, trumpet), George Cables (keyboards), Hadley Caliman (tenor saxophone, flute), Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums), Kent Brinkley (percussion).
Renegade Note: Windjammer showcases Freddie Hubbard's remarkable ability to bridge hard bop and electric jazz. Sophisticated harmonies, lyrical improvisation, and an effortless groove reveal why Hubbard remained one of jazz's most influential trumpet voices throughout the fusion era.
BILLY COBHAM — Stratus (1973)
Personnel: Billy Cobham (drums), Tommy Bolin (guitar), Jan Hammer (keyboards), Lee Sklar (bass).
Renegade Note: Opening Cobham's landmark album Spectrum, Stratus became one of fusion's defining recordings. Its explosive drumming, soaring guitar work, and relentless rhythmic drive continue to inspire musicians across jazz, rock, and funk.
STEVIE WONDER — Contusion (1976)
Personnel: Stevie Wonder (keyboards, synthesizers), Michael Sembello (guitar), Nathan Watts (bass), Raymond Pounds (drums).
Renegade Note: Buried within Songs in the Key of Life is one of Stevie Wonder's greatest instrumental achievements. Contusion demonstrates his extraordinary command of jazz-funk while reminding listeners that one of popular music's greatest songwriters was also a fearless musical explorer.
JOHNNY HAMMOND — Shifting Gears (1975)
Personnel: Johnny Hammond (ARP synthesizer, clavinet, keyboards), Melvin "Wah Wah" Watson (guitar), Chuck Rainey (bass), Harvey Mason (drums), Gary Coleman (percussion).
Renegade Note: Produced during the golden age of jazz-funk, Shifting Gears pairs Johnny Hammond's adventurous keyboard work with one of the tightest rhythm sections ever assembled. Every musician leaves just enough space for the groove to breathe.
STANLEY CLARKE — School Days (1976)
Personnel: Stanley Clarke (bass, vocals), David Sancious (keyboards), Ray Gomez (guitar), Gerry Brown (drums).
Renegade Note: School Days forever changed perceptions of the electric bass. Stanley Clarke elevated the instrument from rhythmic foundation to commanding lead voice, inspiring generations of jazz, rock, and funk musicians.
WEATHER REPORT — Teen Town (1977)
Personnel: Joe Zawinul (keyboards), Wayne Shorter (tenor & soprano saxophones), Jaco Pastorius (bass), Alex Acuña (drums), Manolo Badrena (percussion).
Renegade Note: Written by Jaco Pastorius, Teen Town boldly places the electric bass at center stage. Weather Report's fearless musicianship and inventive arrangements helped establish jazz fusion as one of the most exciting musical movements of the 1970s.
HERBIE HANCOCK — Hang Up Your Hang Ups (1975)
Personnel: Herbie Hancock (keyboards), Bennie Maupin (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, Lyricon), Paul Jackson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Bill Summers (percussion), Melvin "Wah Wah" Watson (guitar).
Renegade Note: Emerging from Herbie Hancock's celebrated Headhunters era, Hang Up Your Hang Ups perfectly captures the spirit of jazz-funk. Equal parts dance groove and improvisational showcase, it remains one of the genre's defining recordings.
GEORGE DUKE — Reach for It (1977)
Personnel: George Duke (vocals, keyboards), Byron Miller (bass), Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums), Charles Icarus Johnson (guitar), Sheila E. (percussion).
Renegade Note: Closing this week's journey, Reach for It demonstrates George Duke's rare gift for combining dazzling musicianship with undeniable funk. It serves as a fitting finale to a playlist celebrating the artists who transformed jazz into something bold, electric, and endlessly adventurous.
🔗 Quick Links:
🎧 Listen live on KDOG 9 AM Pacific Time→ Here
🎧 Listen live on KCSM HD2 9 PM Pacific Time→ Here (On mobile, scroll down to the KCSM HD2 player)
📆 Add to Calendar — Funky Friday (Weekly):
• 9 AM KDOG
Add to Google Calendar
• 9 PM KCSM HD2
Add to Google Calendar
📖 Full Episode Recaps + Setlists → Here
📻 Renegade Radio Site → Here
Funk Facts
QUINCY JONES — Streetbeater
Built around the unmistakable voice of a bass harmonica, crisp horn punctuations, layered electric keyboards, syncopated rhythm guitar, and an unshakable pocket. The arrangement demonstrates Quincy Jones' extraordinary ability to transform sophisticated jazz orchestration into an effortlessly memorable funk groove.
THE BLACKBYRDS — Rock Creek Park
Driven by warm Fender Rhodes textures, fluid bass lines, clean rhythm guitar, subtle horn accents, and relaxed drumming. The arrangement showcases how jazz harmony and funk rhythm can coexist without either overshadowing the other.
MILES DAVIS — Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
Constructed from hypnotic electric pianos, blues-infused trumpet improvisation, atmospheric guitar textures, layered percussion, and an open-ended rhythmic pulse. The arrangement illustrates how Miles Davis abandoned traditional song structure in favor of collective exploration and groove.
FREDDIE HUBBARD — Windjammer
Built around lyrical flugelhorn melodies, shimmering electric keyboards, melodic bass movement, understated percussion, and spacious ensemble interplay. The arrangement demonstrates how jazz virtuosity could evolve naturally within the relaxed feel of 1970s fusion.
BILLY COBHAM — Stratus
Driven by explosive drumming, soaring electric guitar, synthesizer textures, muscular bass lines, and relentless rhythmic momentum. The arrangement showcases fusion's ability to combine technical brilliance with infectious groove.
STEVIE WONDER — Contusion
Constructed from rapid-fire synthesizer lines, expressive electric keyboards, virtuosic guitar work, agile bass playing, and remarkably precise drumming. The arrangement highlights Stevie Wonder's remarkable ability to blur the boundaries between pop, jazz, and fusion.
JOHNNY HAMMOND — Shifting Gears
Built around ARP synthesizer textures, clavinet rhythms, wah-wah guitar, deep bass grooves, and crisp drumming. The arrangement demonstrates how electronic keyboards became central to the evolving sound of jazz-funk during the mid-1970s.
STANLEY CLARKE — School Days
Driven by melodic electric bass, expressive keyboard harmonies, dynamic guitar passages, and energetic drumming. The arrangement illustrates how Stanley Clarke redefined the role of the bass by making it both the rhythmic foundation and the lead melodic voice.
WEATHER REPORT — Teen Town
Constructed from virtuosic fretless bass lines, atmospheric synthesizers, intricate rhythmic interplay, Latin-inspired percussion, and subtle saxophone textures. The arrangement demonstrates how every instrument contributes equally to the musical conversation, making groove the true lead voice.
HERBIE HANCOCK — Hang Up Your Hang Ups
Built around Fender Rhodes and synthesizer textures, elastic bass grooves, wah-wah guitar, layered percussion, and adventurous improvisation. The arrangement perfectly captures the balance between dance-floor energy and fearless musical exploration that defined the Headhunters era.
GEORGE DUKE — Reach for It
Driven by infectious keyboard hooks, punchy rhyth
m guitar, melodic bass lines, energetic percussion, and soulful vocal phrasing. The arrangement showcases George Duke's remarkable ability to unite jazz sophistication, funk rhythms, and pop accessibility into one unmistakable sound.
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