Jazz Thursdays with Global Stars

George Clinton - one of the greatest innovators in urban based soul, rock & funk, and funk styles for the last 40 years. George established his own label Kunspyruhzy, under which he released his first studio album in 10 years after recordings with P-Funk members Empire. He is also planning to release a collection of live recordings from Parliament-Funkadelic and P-Funk All Stars. The CD titled Uncut Funk Series will compile the best shows from the last thirty years and will feature excellent graphics across a wide range of musical notes. Clinton has been showing the world what funk is for over 50 years. His music career reflects musical trends from doo woop to hip-hop. As a teenager, he was inspired by Frankie Lyman & the Teenagers and later started recording doo woop before moving to Detroit, where the group he formed struck gold with their hit I Just Wanna Testify (1967). In 1968, George formed the group Funkadelic, which combined acid rock with primitive funk. After 1972, he renamed the group Parliament and signed a contract with Casablanca Records, while Funkadelic signed with Warner Brothers (1976). Two separate but serious groups, consisting of members from the same collective. Initially, Parliament was more orchestral, brass-heavy, and with mixed vocal arrangements, while Funkadelic was characterized by straightforwardness and a heavy rhythm section. Times and music changed, but Clinton remained a true funk devotee and recorded several albums for Prince's Paisley Park imprint, as well as for Eric Records. George, with his touring group P-Func All Stars, graced the stage at the Woodstock festival, as well as the famous Nike advertising campaign at the NBA 2002 games and made a live performance at the end of the OutKast Grammy Awards 2004. Now the 'funky worm' has unfolded, controlled by George and his creativity with the Kunspyruhzy label. 'I can't wait for that P-Funk to grow back again,' he laughed. 'I got the old roots from live concerts and new branches from different group members along with my solo projects. The funk world — the best of worlds!' George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic All Stars on March 6 at B1 Maximum club.