Socialybrium - For You - For Us - For All (2010)

In an alternate universe somewhere (or perhaps Darryl Dawkins' home planet of Lovetron), fans of hard-rocking funk are hailing the arrival of a supergroup: Socialybrium. The rock-solid rhythm section is Melvin Gibbs and J.T. Lewis, whose collective experience ranges from Vanessa Williams to Danny Gatton to the Rollins Band, DJ Logic, and Material. The front line is Blackbyrd McKnight and Bernie Worrell, best known for their longtime collaborations with George Clinton, but they can stretch well beyond that. Bernie Worrell is Juilliard trained, and before he was GC's bandleader, Blackbyrd played with Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, Sonny Rollins, and Charles Lloyd. So what does it sound like? Four master musicians getting in a room together and throwing down and having fun. Rock, funk, and even a little bit of reggae are all part of the mix. Gibbs' no-frills production complements the band and the playing is raw and in-your-face. No, it doesn't sound like Funkadelic, but it's hard to imagine a fan of that kind of guitar music not liking this. Blackbyrd is an AMAZING guitar player and Bernie Worrell is...well, he's Bernie Worrell. This is great instrumental rock-funk with no posing or posturing and no lyrics to get in the way of pure brilliant musicianship. Outstanding.