Bootsy Collins World Wide Funk
Published Oct 27, 2017
From 1997's Fresh Outta 'P' University onward, each successive Bootsy Collins offering has seen the funk legend playing an ever more peripheral role to a rotating case of guest stars. Opening with a hilarious spoken word intro from Iggy Pop, World Wide Funk doesn't skimp on a supporting cast of funkateers, but this time "Bootzilla" is front and centre in the mix ¾ and after 50 years, he's still one of the greatest bassists to walk the earth.You can feel that low end on "Bass-Rigged-System," an impressive, multi-generational team-up with Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten and the house quake of "Come Back Bootsy," which features Eric Gales, Dennis Chambers and World-Wide-Funkdrive. "Hot Saucer" (with Musiq Soulchild and Big Daddy Kane) and "Snow Bunny" are bottom-heavy romantic confections, while Collins' endearingly idiosyncratic vocal style is especially poignant on the ode to the departed P-Funk keyboard genius Bernie Worrell, "A Salute to Bernie." The album closes with "Illusions," on which Chuck D and Blvck Seeds drop some pertinent science over a monstrous Buckethead/Bootsy groove.
World Wide Funk doesn't break any new ground, but it showcases Bootsy Collins blissfully stretching out. (Mascot)