FREEKBASS (BootsyCollinsProtege)-Mousetap, SAT. 10/25 http://www.freekbass.com/ http://www.myspace.com/freekbass

Freekbass

Freekbass has collaborated with funk legend, Bootsy Collins, for several projects, the most recent being Freekbass', The Air Is Fresher Underground, released in late October, 2003. Underground features guest appearances by Bootsy, Catfish Collins, Buckethead, Bernie Worrell and a few of the Woo Warriors, to name a few. This is Freekbass' second album to be executive produced by Bootsy, the first being Body Over Mind, Gemini/Bootzilla, 2001.

The whole Freekbass story, however, goes back to the very first "Bootsy" collaboration. In the mid '90's, Freekbass had co-founded the group "SHAG", a solid-roots funk band. During this time, he was introduced to Gary "Muggbone" Cooper, who asked Freekbass and SHAG guitarist, Chris Donnelly, to play on a compilation Jimi Hendrix tribute album for P-Vine Records, Japan. Coincidentally, the recording session was to take place at Bootzilla Rehab Studios, recording den of none other than Boosty Collins. Freekbass and his guitarist, both named "Chris", were immediately dubbed "Chris Bass" and "Chris Guitar" by Bootsy, in order to not get them confused. But it was when "Chris Bass" laid down his bass tracks that Bootsy called out: "Play that Freaky Bass, Baba!" ... Bootsy has called him Freekbass from that moment on ... It was the beginning of an inspirational and enduring friendship that continues today.

"Freekbass is the new spiritual warrior for the Funk", Bootsy says. "I'm not a big fan of playing with myself, although I have been accused of doing so in the past (smile) ... this is the feeling I get when touchin' bass with Freekbass."

If you haven't heard of Freekbass, you will. Protege to bandleader and funk-bass pioneer Bootsy Collins, fellow Cincinnati native Chris "Freekbass" Sherman and his band have inherited the Buckeye State's funk flag, while winning over many funk-favoring ears across the Midwest. Freekbass produced Body Over Mind, released late last year as a Japanese import, with Bootsy and keyboardist Beta-17, and every one of its 14 slick tracks embodies the state of the art of on-the-one, sci-fi funk. Taking a page from the Bootsy cookbook, Freek lets medium-tempo grooves simmer, spicing the mix with delicious hooks, grab-ya guitar parts, and trippy sci-fi synth sounds that weave in and out of the funk. Like his mentor, Freekbass switches between understated fingerstyle grooves and mind-bending, effect-saturated solos. Don't expect a Funkenstein clone, though; while Bootsy's direction and influence is clear, Freekbass and his band have a colorful, Freek-unique sound that's undeniably their own delicious thang.