Back to the Funk is an intentional throwback to early-'70s funky jazz, the type of music performed by flutist
Herbie Mann and a little later by saxophonist
Grover Washington, Jr. The R&B-ish grooves are catchy if predictable and the backup band is solid, with flutist
Bradley Leighton in the lead nearly all of the time. Nothing unusual happens, but
Leighton plays well over the vamps, sounding enthusiastic and reasonably creative within the genre. While eight of the 11 selections are recent originals, this could very easily be an album from 1972. Fans of that era's funky music will want to pick this one up. ~ Scott Yanow