Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Rich Willey Boptism Funk Band: Conspiracy

2

Rich Willey Boptism Funk Band: Conspiracy

Rich Willey Boptism Funk Band: Conspiracy
Both before and after his first terrific recording as leader—Gone with the Piggies (Consolidated Artists Productions, 1988)—Asheville, North Carolina-based Rich Willey has been a very busy jazzman. During that period, Willey spent dues-playing time with Philly Phenoms, New York Bopsters, did a stint with the great Maynard Ferguson, authored dozens of well-acclaimed trumpet and jazz improv books, wrote scores of original tunes, taught and, in his spare time, performed locally. However, within the last year he has released two outstanding recordings: a superb big band jazz album, Down and Dirty (Wise Cat Records, 2019) and now this smaller group funk send-up, Conspiracy.

The conspiratorial fare here is pure contemporized funk, marvelously hip, and played to "perfunktion." Using a stellar ensemble, consisting of brass, woodwinds, B-3 organ, synthesizer and Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), the Poobah of Boptism and his worthy mates deliver eleven Willey originals, each an example of superior composition, tight ensemble playing spearheaded by L.A. ace lead trumpeter Dan Fornero, sparkling solos, and badass Wally Minko arrangements. The grooves run the gamut from the hip-hopped bounce of the goofy "Mr. Magoo," "Clip Clop Mogul," "Eenie Meanie Beanie Weeny" and "Brother Kenya's Paradigm" (aka "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?"), to the smoother jazzed ("Nude Eel," "Blessed are the Hip") and the straight-ahead closer, "Blues for Bobby."

Willey is a versatile, highly inventive performer and soars throughout on both trumpet and the less-frequently-heard bass trumpet. He may be the only jazzer on today's scene playing the instrument—and he owns it. The guy has solid trumpet and low horn chops and his improv reeks with superlative, inventive nuggets. The other soloists on the date are superb—from John Swana's EVI toots to Minko's and Bobby Floyd's respective keys and Dave Stryker's cooking guitar rides. The originals feature Willey's trademarked angular and unexpected-direction themes. They're a perfect fit for the double-timed rhythm beds of the selections. The incorporation of Philly-great Swana's EVI and Minko's synth, doubling Willey et al, is a neat touch and adds further juke-juice to the scene. When you add the ballsy sound of Floyd's B-3 and ass-shaking bottom of Mike Boone's ace bass and Byron "Wookie" Landham's set-work, you have a recipe for a great session—and this is.

Conspiracy is a contemporized fun(k)house. Nothing to be paranoid about, boys and girls. Even Pennywise will dig it.

Track Listing

Mr. Magoo; Goofin' Off; Clip clop Mogul, Blessed Are the Hip; Adrenaline Rush; Brother Kenya's Paradigm; Secret things; Conspiracy; Nude Eel; Eenie Meanie Beanie Weeny; Blues for Bobby. All selections composed by Rich Willey and arranged by The Amazing Wally Minko.

Personnel

Rich Willey
cornet
Dan Fornero
trumpet
John Swana
electronics
David Mann
woodwinds
Bobby Floyd
organ, Hammond B3
Wally Minko
keyboards

Rich Willey: bass trumpet, trumpet; Dan Fornero: trumpet and flugelhorn; John Swana: valve trombone and EVI; Tom Evans: alto, tenor, bari saxophone, clarinet, flute; David Mann: tenor and soprano sax; Wally Minko: Fender Rhodes, synthesizer; Bobby Floyd: Hammond B3 organ, piano; Dave Stryker: guitar; Mike Boone: 5-string electric bass; Byron "Wookie" Landham: drums.

Album information

Title: Conspiracy | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Wise Cat Records

Tags

Comments


PREVIOUS / NEXT




Support All About Jazz

Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Tramonto
John Taylor
Ki
Natsuki Tamura / Satoko Fujii
Duality Pt: 02
Dom Franks' Strayhorn
The Sound of Raspberry
Tatsuya Yoshida / Martín Escalante

Popular

Old Home/New Home
The Brian Martin Big Band
My Ideal
Sam Dillon
Ecliptic
Shifa شفاء - Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Mark Sanders
Lado B Brazilian Project 2
Catina DeLuna & Otmaro Ruíz

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.

Install All About Jazz

iOS Instructions:

To install this app, follow these steps:

All About Jazz would like to send you notifications

Notifications include timely alerts to content of interest, such as articles, reviews, new features, and more. These can be configured in Settings.