Blackbyrd McKnight - 'Bout Funkin' Time (2009)

Blackbyrd McKnight isn't a guy who seeks the spotlight. As George Clinton's bandleader for nearly 30 years, Blackbyrd was often back in the shadows or had his back to the crowd. Just let him play guitar and he's happy. So it's a bit of a surprise that after nearly 40 years of playing professionally, Blackbyrd finally released his solo debut in 2009. What's not a surprise is that it's a mostly instrumental album of gonzo guitar performances. Aside from vocals on a couple of tracks, everything here is performed by Blackbyrd and it smokes. Set up a groove and let guitar ecstasy take over. The performances aren't overly polished, but there's a pure joy and focus in his playing that you rarely hear. If you're a fan of the electric guitar and its possibilities, you owe it to yourself to check out Blackbyrd McKnight. He's one of the greats.