Tales of the Phatman

Tales of the Phatman

ASIN: B00004S80Q

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Best known for his drumming on collaborations with guitarist and fellow Detroit native Earl Klugh, Gene Dunlap has moved beyond his drum kit to become a respected writer, producer, arranger, and composer. His 1994 release Groove with You caught on with the smooth-jazz format, hinting that he'd become a regular solo artist. Six years later, Tales of the Phatman opens with "Things That Go Phunk in the Night," with its funky bounce, a slick Perry Hughes electric-guitar melody, and rising horn accents by trumpeter Rayse Biggs and alto saxman Ray Manzerole. "Lay Your Troubles Down" is more spiritual minded but similarly buoyant, combining a thick hip-hop/bass groove (machine generated, though you'd never guess it) with a cool, Latin-percussion pattern that contrasts with Hughes's laid-back guitar melody. Dunlap brings to mind his 1970s fusion roots with "Last Night, Night Before," which artfully mixes a hip-hop bottom, Charles Wilson III's playful, retro-flavored Rhodes harmonies, and a blend of Manzerole's alto sax and Biggs's muted trumpet. Dunlap and the gang invoke the spirit of Miles Davis on a moody, hypnotic cover of Janet Jackson's "Got 'til It's Gone," with Biggs floating his horn over a light shuffle groove. It's odd that Dunlap, legendary for his drumming, offers no live percussion on Tales. It would be a bit phatter with more organic touches. --Jonathan Widran

Tales of the Phatman,The Gene Dunlap Band,Rhino / Wea,Funk,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Smooth Jazz

Average customer rating:

Progamming got to me

Low Recording Budgets cause artist to use more tech.

The Real Problem is...

The real thing missing

Disappointing

Tales of the Phatman
The Gene Dunlap Band
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004S80Q
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

Things That Go Phunk In The Night
When All Is Said And Done
Got 'Til It's Gone
Lay Your Troubles Down
I Want You Back
Keep Walking
Last Night, Night Before
She Used To Be In Love (With Me)
As We Grow
Tales Of The Phatman
Percussion Reprise

Amazon.com

Best known for his drumming on collaborations with guitarist and fellow Detroit native Earl Klugh, Gene Dunlap has moved beyond his drum kit to become a respected writer, producer, arranger, and composer. His 1994 release Groove with You caught on with the smooth-jazz format, hinting that he'd become a regular solo artist. Six years later, Tales of the Phatman opens with "Things That Go Phunk in the Night," with its funky bounce, a slick Perry Hughes electric-guitar melody, and rising horn accents by trumpeter Rayse Biggs and alto saxman Ray Manzerole. "Lay Your Troubles Down" is more spiritual minded but similarly buoyant, combining a thick hip-hop/bass groove (machine generated, though you'd never guess it) with a cool, Latin-percussion pattern that contrasts with Hughes's laid-back guitar melody. Dunlap brings to mind his 1970s fusion roots with "Last Night, Night Before," which artfully mixes a hip-hop bottom, Charles Wilson III's playful, retro-flavored Rhodes harmonies, and a blend of Manzerole's alto sax and Biggs's muted trumpet. Dunlap and the gang invoke the spirit of Miles Davis on a moody, hypnotic cover of Janet Jackson's "Got 'til It's Gone," with Biggs floating his horn over a light shuffle groove. It's odd that Dunlap, legendary for his drumming, offers no live percussion on Tales. It would be a bit phatter with more organic touches. --Jonathan Widran

Customer Reviews:

Progamming got to me.......2005-11-27

When I first heard this cd I thought this cd was grooving. Then after awhile I kept hearing this same old drum beat which began to sound shady and shadier. Sometimes you have to give up on the programming and get some real people there. This cd could have been a classic but without the musicians needed it's just like a can of soup for dinner "it will get you by for awhile". If your're just dancing to this, try it. If your are not making enough money then try something else.

Low Recording Budgets cause artist to use more tech........2003-09-12

Hi there my name is Gene Dunlap and I want to thank everyone who has brought my records.

One thing that the public is not informed about are the low recording budgets that are given to NON-RAP/POP recording artist.

I would love to take my band into the studio for a week or two and record some great Live Tracks but I can't afford to with the budgets that I am given to make the record. My only alternative is to use some technology (drum machine) and produce the basic tracks at home.

Hey I'am a musician (drummer) and I love the interplay between musicians playing live in the studio on tracks.Until the record companies deside to give musicial talent a few more dollars to pay for recording studio costs and lets not forget my band has to be paid. (Hey!!! we all have bills to pay). All of us "Artist Formaly Known AS Musicians" will make records as economical as we can.

God Bless,

Gene Dunlap

The Real Problem is..........2001-11-16

While Gene's last two albums cannot compare to what this marvelous drummer and composer had recorded earlier, the "Real Problem" is that Capitol Records has not re-issued the albums he recorded in the early 1980's on CD. I cannot understand this! "It's Just The Way I Feel" and "Party In Me," are hot commodities on the web sites that sell vinyl. C'mon, Capitol, please give us what we want!!!

The real thing missing.......2001-06-18

This weekend I bought Gene Dunlap's previous album, Groove with You. On a few songs he uses drum programming and, hardly recognizable, occasionally percussion programming. Such a pity. His songs with the real thing are sparkling en refreshing. Luckily, "Groove with you" offers enough live performances on drums and percussion. Reading the review of Jonathan Widran about Gene's latest release, noticing that the album only contains machine created percussions, made me decide not to buy "Tales of the Phatman". Thank you Jonathan. You saved me from buying an album, I would surely regret.

I really hope the Artist himself will read this review! The same goes for many other contemporary jazz artists. Try the latest relaeses of Everette Harp, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, The Rippingtons and many others. Please gentlemen, quit using computers and give us 'live' perfomances

Disappointing.......2000-07-22

Expected the Gene Dunlap of old, but it sound as if something is missing. He tried the smooth jazz style which Gene is not. I gave the CD a 4 on name only.

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