Does a horn or horns give a funk act more legitimacy and marketability?

Hmmm.. that's a good question, first and foremost I would think that it gives it legitimacy. There's nothing quite like a set of horns backing someone cool like Joe Cocker for example, although can see where marketability comes into play like when Aerosmith does some of their tunes. It sounds like it was thrown in the mix just to add more shit to something that doesn't need it. Just my .02

horns are cool...when done right. a little sax is nice, INXS used that quite a bit, and tastefully. the wailing solo on "Never Tear Us Apart" gets me everytime...but the question was about funk bands. Prince brought in horns for a couple discs after Purple Rain, sometimes it worked, and live, sometimes it didn't. it does flesh out the sound some, and allows the keys to do something else other than horn-like fills and pads. it's all in the arranging...the last couple tours Prince has been using a guy named Najee, and i didn't like what he brought to the live sound. it was starting to sound a bit like Kenny G shit. but when he uses Maceo Parker, who used to play with James Brown, it's a completely different thing, and it ain't so bad.

when the Rolling Stones use Bobby Keys on tour, it's always good. nothing like the Stones classics "Bitch" and "Brown Sugar" with a real horn section blowin'...again, not funk, but so very rock and roll...

Good points guys thanks. I ask cause we're thinking of adding a horn to our lineup, hoping to get a little more action.

My fear is the Kenny G factor. Which is why we didn't hire one guy who only brought in an Alto. Gag! Gotta be a Tenor or forget it.

My other fear is too much horn(s). Nothing fucks up a mix more that too many or too busy horns.

Ideally what I want is some punctuation. Much like the James Brown/Maceo Parker sound. Nice tight heads, solid solos, and some vocal punctuation. Too much noodleing and I get grumpy.

Now if we could just find a playa who isn't a flake we'll be ok.

Thanks again for the input.

Don't forget that Earth Wind and Fire sound paradiddle. Nothing like it! graemlins/thumb.gif smile.gif

I know what you mean about players being flakey, I did a little playing with The Daddies (before they got an album contract) up here in Oregon and they always had a hard time keeping horn players. One thing that seemed to work out though was putting up flyers on a college campus, there are always great players there looking to jam.

i'd just use my keyboard to fire off sampled horns. cheaper that way.

i think horn players would be less content to sit around part of the night and wait until you play a song that needs horns. there are some local reggae bands that have guys who do horns and percussion, or horns and keys. that way, you could take the sound in a couple different directions.

You bet two, a horn player who can do something else is the only way to go.

paradiddle, I've had horn players in almost every band I have been in...I was a horn player in several bands, as well...

The real trick is making sure the horns play ACTUAL PARTS. There is nothing worse than a sax or trumpet who doesn't know when to shut up...

Whoever is the writer in the band needs to chart the horn parts and make it clear that solo turns will come at specific times...Otherwise, you're dealing with mush...

but that's the thing about playing any instrument, knowing when to play, and when to hang back...

Horn players blow.

:D

Dude, do what living color did and just get some horn sounds pumped in to your drum pads! That way YOU have control over what comes out and when!
Only way to go because horn players always fuck up the band. No one wants to see Waldo up there trying to jam 'ya know what I mean? If you must, then do this:
Get a class schedule from your local Community College. Look for the advanced jazz band class listing. Find out when/ where it is being held and go stand outside of the class and listen. If you hear something cool. Talk to the guy after class. This way you can listen in advance, and make sure the guy isn't a sissy boy or whatever.
Trust me on this one, it works for other players too (got a good bass player this way myself!)

Horns, like any other generally non-rock instrument, have their place and context in certain songs, and it doesn't necessarily have to be funk. A good example is Radiohead's "National Anthem" off of Kid A. That's the most rockin song on the album and the horn parts are great, it's just a wicked groove and the horns add an "acid jazz" sound to it. Creativity like that can make you go far...