Home2011 Reviews and Interviews Review-Funk for the Holidays at Gilly's
The Dayton Musicians Guide and Cityboy Entertainment's
Funk for the Holidays at Gilly's
Written by Jimmy Cummings
It’s no secret that in the 1970’s Ohio’s music scene was
dominated by some of the best funk musicians in the world like Roger Troutman,
Steve Arrington, and the Wilder Brothers to name a few. These guys helped start
the funk craze in the 70’s that still resonates with fans today. Bands like the
Ohio Player, Zapp, Heatwave, and Slave all have ties to the Buckeye State. They
have influenced some of today’s local funksters like Bootsy Collins, Freekbass,
and Magic Jackson as well as tonight’s performers Prime Tyme, Cross Town
Traffic, and The Abrams-Lee Project. The Funk for the Holidays show at Gilly’s
in downtown Dayton was the brain child of The Dayton Musicians Guide’s Lamar
Webster in conjunction with Cityboy Entertainment’s Donald Blanton. The two put
together an all-star line-up for this holiday funk fest and I couldn’t wait for
things to get started.
Prime Tyme
Lamar started the evening off by honoring musicians from the
area who are no longer with us. After a moment of silence it was time for the
first act on the bill Prime Tyme featuring Guitarist Dallas Webster from
Dayton. Webster wasted little time funking things up with his lightning fast
fingers and the band followed suit laying down some silky grooves. It was just
what the crowd needed on a rainy night to get things warmed up. The audience
barely had time to catch their breath when Lamar, and Cross Town Traffic took
center stage with Gordon “Flash” Melvin as well as Reggie Morgan (D-Funk All
Stars) sitting in on Guitar; and man did he put on an exhibition. When the band
played their rendition of the Funkadelic hit “Maggot Brain” all eyes were on
Morgan as he ripped into some kind of Guitar frenzy that blew the roof off the
joint that included Reggie playing with his teeth. I caught up with Reggie for
a couple of minutes after their set; what a nice guy. Reggie has been playing with
Tony Allen’s D-Funk All Stars since 1991; the band showcases Ohio’s funk talent
from around the state and Morgan says that the band tries to have a new show
each time they go out on stage. The set also included special guest Floyd
Weatherspoon on Vocals and Keith Harrison pounding the keys on the smash hit “Always
and Forever.” Weatherspoon was amazing as he belted out every note to
perfection.
Cross Town Traffic
I was honored to meet both gentlemen that night and had the
pleasure of chatting with Harrison in between bands. It was a thrill to sit and
listen as Keith told me about his work with at risk youths in the area as well
as his work with legendary funk bans Heatwave and Faze-O. What a night and it
was just getting started; up next The Abrams-Lee Project that features Guitarist
Tim Abrams who put on an exhibition of his own and ex Detroit Lion and Miami
Dolphin Larry Lee on Bass. The band also included a special performance by Mark
Akridge on Bass. One of the highlights of the set was when the band featured
Akridge and his Bass on the Slave hit “Slide,” damn that kid can play! The days
of Funk are alive and well my friend and Dayton seems to be at the heart of it
all thanks to people like Lamar Webster. I can’t thank you enough for letting
Buckeye Music Magazine be a part of such a great night. A special thanks to
Prime Tyme, Cross Town Traffic, and The Abrams-Lee Project for all the great
pics I was able to capture and for proving that Dayton funk lives! And a BIG
thanks to Donald Blanton and Cityboy Entertainment for his support of Buckeye
Music Magazine and for introducing us to some of Dayton’s best; you help make
this one of the best musical experiences of my life.
2011 Reviews and Interviews 
to get things warmed up. The audience
barely had time to catch their breath when Lamar, and Cross Town Traffic took
center stage with Gordon “Flash” Melvin as well as Reggie Morgan (D-Funk All
Stars) sitting in on Guitar; and man did he put on an exhibition. When the band
played their rendition of the Funkadelic hit “Maggot Brain” all eyes were on
Morgan as he ripped into some kind of Guitar frenzy that blew the roof off the
joint that included Reggie playing with his teeth. I caught up with Reggie for
a couple of minutes after their set; what a nice guy. Reggie has been playing with
Tony Allen’s D-Funk All Stars since 1991; the band showcases Ohio’s funk talent
from around the state and Morgan says that the band tries to have a new show
each time they go out on stage. The set also included special guest Floyd
Weatherspoon on Vocals and Keith Harrison pounding the keys on the smash hit “Always
and Forever.” Weatherspoon was amazing as he belted out every note to
perfection. 
Faze-O. What a night and it
was just getting started; up next The Abrams-Lee Project that features Guitarist
Tim Abrams who put on an exhibition of his own and ex Detroit Lion and Miami
Dolphin Larry Lee on Bass. The band also included a special performance by Mark
Akridge on Bass. One of the highlights of the set was when the band featured
Akridge and his Bass on the Slave hit “Slide,” damn that kid can play! The days
of Funk are alive and well my friend and Dayton seems to be at the heart of it
all thanks to people like Lamar Webster. I can’t thank you enough for letting
Buckeye Music Magazine be a part of such a great night. A special thanks to
Prime Tyme, Cross Town Traffic, and The Abrams-Lee Project for all the great
pics I was able to capture and for proving that Dayton funk lives! And a BIG
thanks to Donald Blanton and Cityboy Entertainment for his support of Buckeye
Music Magazine and for introducing us to some of Dayton’s best; you help make
this one of the best musical experiences of my life. 
