Brian Auger
One of the funkiest keyboard players ever heard. Many remember thinking of him as the "bridge" because of his assosiation with Passport, Average White Band & Les McCann and Eddie Harris.
He played with all of them, but he also had a great band called the "Oblivion Express" that had hit records that you could dance to. Jazz, Soul.....whatever you want to call
Brian Augar....he "sho nuff" funky!!
Brian Auger began his carrer as a straight up jazz player in England in the mid 1960s. Later on he switched up to a type of R&B/jazz. To summarize Brian Auger would have probably felt quite at home at CTI and WRVR-FM in NY during the 70s.
Brian Auger came out of the British Blues scene playing with John Mayall and others. He is obviously influenced by organ players like Jimmy Smith, Groove Holmes, Don Patterson, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland and others, but is a great musician in his own right.
Augar is really a good example of why FUNK is never really "un-cut" (despite what Funkenstien may say). There is nothing really "pure" about it at all, FUNK can be found in many "places & spaces". It really is a blending of many different musical styles and attitudes.
His music is jazz + soul + rock n roll + blues and you......can even dance to it !!
As of 2000, the lineup consisted of his daughter, Savannah, on vocals, Chris Clermont on guitar, Dan Lutz on bass, and his son Karma on drums. This group issued the album Voices of Other Times on Miramar Records one week before Augers 61st birthday.
|
