If You Like Funk: Check Out Vulfpeck

Great cover of higher ground. 12/8 is not often used in funk.

Stevie Wonder seems to have borrowed liberally from James Brown who released this a month earlier...keyboards substituted for rhythm guitar.

https://youtu.be/3qixQns6Xs4

Funnily enough the RHCP took the Stevie Wonder hit and made what is regarded as one of the best covers....they brought back the rhythm guitar instead of keyboard and they sound even more like the James a Brown original....

James Brown, the J.B.s, Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker are da fonk

Also check this out


https://youtu.be/FAogbmx6SHw

Some Funk/Fusion!

Rock Candy Funk Party (Joe Bonamassa's Funk band!)
https://youtu.be/L5CgdTtGv8o

Mike Gotthard (feat. drummer of the hour; Gergo Borlai)
https://youtu.be/ZsBRZDBAoAo

Adam Holzman (Mile's Davis LAST Keyboard player!)
https://youtu.be/gCTDb98SwSM

Marcus playing TOP! (puttin' on a funk bass clinic!)
https://youtu.be/zaHKL3uOkLc

Just what is “Funk”?  For me, the word suggests “dirty” (at least a little), “soulful”, maybe “sexual”.  Very relaxed, but deep groove even at faster tempos.  That is a good cover of “Higher Ground”; but, for me, that ain’t “Funk”.  Funky for sure; very impressive and fun.  But.....  The feel is not right.  It’s too slick, produced.  Dave Weckl is an amazing drummer and your son has good taste in drummers.  However, the best funk drummers play very little; not nearly as much as Weckl does.  For them it’s all about the feel.  Overall, the playing is great, but with a California studio sound and feel.  Dare I say it...sounds too white.  The singer, doesn’t quite get there.  Don’t get me wrong it’s good stuff.  But, Funk?.  Not so sure.  But, that’s just me.

Funk:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CF4bP6ZubIA

One more:

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5GbpvIt-4ns

Now this is More like it.
This is AWESOME !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le0BLAEO93g