2008 is already looking like a good
year for fans of authentic, old-school funk, thanks to three new releases from
Cincinnati-based Bootsy Collins protégé Freekbass.
The internationally-known bassist released a live DVD
late last year, and has just finished shooting two instructional DVDs for New York City’s Rock
House publishing. He is currently recording for several projects, including a new
Freekbass album scheduled for release sometime in April.
 For those who don’t know, the
Freekbass saga begins in Cincinnati,
Ohio, which has always been a
hotbed for funk music ranging from Bootsy Collins to James Brown, Midnight Star
and the Deal.
During the mid-1990s, a
mild-mannered bass prodigy named Chris Sherman was playing with Cincinnati-based
roots funk band Shag, when he and the group’s guitarist were asked to record
tracks for a Jimi Hendrix tribute album being put out by P-Vine Records, Japan. As it
happened, the album was to be produced by funk-bass icon Bootsy Collins at
Bootzilla Rehab Studios.
Sherman laid down his bass tracks, and legend
has it Collins was so impressed he immediately yelled out, “Play that freaky
bass, Baba!” With these words, Sherman
was instantly reborn as Freekbass, “the new spiritual warrior for the funk.”
Freakbass and Collins have worked
together ever since, developing a long and enduring friendship. Collins
produced two Freekbass albums, “Body Over Mind” and “The Air is Fresher
Underground,” and the duo have collaborated on a long list of side projects
over the years.
“I’m not a big fan of playing with
myself,” Collins has said, “although I have been accused of doing so in the
past…this is the feeling I get when touchin’ bass with Freekbass. While livin’
in a digital world, he still has an analog flavor.”
The feeling is definitely mutual,
as Freekbass explained in a recent interview. “Obviously, I’ve always been a
big fan of Bootsy,” he said. “It’s been great. He brings things out of you that
you didn’t even know you had.”
“He’s really good at seeing what
makes you your own thing. Just because I’m a flashy bass player, he’s not
trying to make me Bootsy number two, or anything like that.”
Freekbass is currently putting the
finishing touches on a third Collins-produced album, which he said should be
out sometime in April. “Bootsy’s the Executive Producer again,” Freekbass said.
“We’ve been working on it for about the last year or so. With as much touring
as we do, it’s always hard pinning down time to get into the studio.”
The new album will feature a slightly
different Freekbass sound, as well as guest appearances by artists such as
Bernie Worrell of P-funk and the Talking Heads. “We’ve been doing stuff a lot
rawer,” Freekbass said. “I think we got some good stuff.”
Freekbass is also promoting a new
live DVD, “A Sliver of Shiver,” that was recorded during “Bootsy’s Fall Ball.”
Bootsy Collins emcees the concert, than joins the band for an impromptu jam
featuring Freekbass, Buckethead and Animal Crackers on turntables.
The artist is also releasing an
instructional DVD, published by New
York City’s Rock House Method. The DVD will come in beginner and advanced versions, and features
a code to access special online content. “It’s been a long time coming,” Freekbass said, explaining that he hasn’t
even seen the DVD himself. “I’ll be seeing the finished thing when everybody
else does, in a couple of weeks.”
“I teach privately when I’m not on
the road,” Freekbass added, “so it was nice having all of those elements come together. I’ve never taught as my little
alias-ass Freekbass before; that was kind of a new little world.”
Freekbass is currently planning a
European tour for 2008, and will be playing at Peaches Bar & Grill in
Yellow Springs on April 19. Freekbass’ albums, live DVD and instructional DVD
are available online at www.freekbass.com.
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