Pocket Fulla Nasty
Doug Johns
Muntjac Music

Junkyard Waltz
Freekbass
Bootzilla Productions

Doug Johns had me at hello. And by the time he hit the "nevah, evah touch it" cover of "Stairway to Heaven," I wondered if the studio rats in Far Corporation had heard it. Johns returns to glory with a new slate of funk on Pocket Fulla Nasty -- an 11-track tour de force that suggests if he's not the best bass player in Cleveland, it's only because Stuart Hamm bought a foreclosed home on the east side somewhere (kidding). The nimble, large-band funk carries on from the opening strains of the horn-fortified "Scrumpt" to the one-two pop of "Chump Suey" and "Knutso." The description "Tower of Power with Victor Wooten on bass" couldn't be more apt. Like I said last year, this guy's an absolute monster at his craft. He speaks softly, but carries a big four-string. Keep an eye on the schedules at the Winchester, Wilbert's and Brothers Lounge. Odds are he'll turn up pretty soon.

And speaking of... popping in Chris Sherman's new effort immediately following Johns was like brilliant. Junkyard Waltz is the latest effort by the understudy of Bootsy Collins who calls himself Freekbass. Longtime funksters might remember Sherman from the Cincinnati act SHAG; of all his solo work, this could be his grooviest. Waltz features its own 11 tracks, co-produced by Tobe "Tobotius" Donohue (executive produced by Bootsy Collins) and features guest appearances by Bernie Worrell (P-Funk), Mike Gordon (Phish) and the venerable Brian Carroll (a.k.a. Buckethead). And this is a case where you have to buy the CD -- the bonus cover of Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" is awesome, but not part of a download package. If you've never seen this cat live, you don't know the whacked out, day-glo, O.T.T. experience you're missing.

F.F.O. (For Fans of): If you haven't figured it out by reading the review...

Freekbass celebrates the release of Junkyard Waltz this Friday, November 21 at 9PM at the Beachland Ballroom. Details at http://www.beachlandballroom.com.

Visit Doug Johns at http://www.dougjohns.com and Freekbass at http://www.freekbass.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band's CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

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