All My Funky Friends

Although she's best remembered as one of George Clinton's Brides of Funkenstein, Dawn Silva is most definitely a funk diva in her own right. She may have dropped under the radar during the '80s and '90s, but her musical spirit has never faltered, and this 2000 solo debut is a stunning slab of traditionally inflected grooves. Silva is in fine voice -- better perhaps than she was in her days as a Bride -- and musical partner D'LaVance has weighed in with some superb funk jams, making this one of the best offerings to the genre in almost a decade. The opener, "As Long As It's on the One," kicks her set off in ultimate style before being revamped for the outro. In its initial outing, the song is a true but refreshingly updated funk groove -- a lengthy jam that cracks open the door for what will follow on the magnificent "Break Me Off" and again on the crunchy "Whole Lotta Game." Edgier and completely contemporary, the reprisal of "As Long As It's on the One" takes the whole show out in unequaled style -- a perfect marriage of old and new schools which reiterates the content of the whole album. Because Silva isn't a one-genre performer, this is by no means a one-genre set. She moves with fluidity and ease from her pure funk offerings to the hip-hopped "Red Light District," and on to the tender ballad "Close to You." Also included, to confirm the album's title dedication, are two ferocious renderings of the P-Funk classics "Disco to Go" and "I'd Rather Be With You." ~ Amy Hanson|