THE BLACKBYRDS — Unfinished Business (review)

THE BLACKBYRDS — Unfinished Business album cover Album · 1976 · Funk Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
The Blackbyrd’s music ranged from funk jazz to dance grooves for the disco, but in their hands such different styles sounded unified and almost identical due to the Byrd’s ultra smooth, yet relentless groove that drove every song they did. Sometimes referred to as a proto-disco band, the Byrd’s didn’t have the heavy thud of the later disco trend, but their subtle implied four on the floor beat could fill the dance floors in the mid-70s. The rhythm section of Joe Hall on bass with Keith Killgo on drums was poetry in motion that floated like a butterfly while laying a solid groove for the icing on the cake, Orville Saunders’ driving repetitive chicken scratch guitar parts that grab you and never let go. Make no mistake, “Unfinished Business” is music for the dance floor, but there are also plenty of great jazz solos from folks like Ernie Watts and Ray Parker for those who just want to listen.

There are a couple of standout cuts on here that may be of interest to the collector of exotic rare groove; “Enter In” features a lengthy solo on an old analog synth that struggles to stay in tune while fighting against an extra thick coating of reverb, nice kitsch value on that one, and album closer “Unfinished Business” is excellent instrumental funk jazz with a killer guitar riff backed by a pretty repeating melody on the vibraphone and topped with a funky sax solo. Probably the best cut on the album though is the opener “Time is Movin”, once again Saunders’ guitar riffing is the star and the rest of the band falls in step while keyboardist Kevin Tony plays a hot solo on the B3. Throwing a party? Get rid of those tired old hits and put this on instead, your guests will thank you.
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