From the legendary Sly & The Family Stone and Tower of Power to the lesser known The Lumpen and Darondo, Funk has long been a significant counter-cultural musical tradition in the Bay Area. That cultural movement has definitely lost some momentum in recent decades, but thanks to amazing Bay Area rhythm section The Park‘s collaborations with the infamous Darondo, there seems to be new life to the genre. At the opening of their new 7 inch record, Silver Cloud Time Machine, Darondo wonders whether this happenstance modern day collaboration is in fact real or if his old school Rolls Royce is a time machine. Whatever the answer, this release is keeping the Bay’s musical continuum alive, and demonstrating that the opportunity for OGs and a new generation of musicians to collaborate is rich with possibility.

For a dope period taste of the Silver Cloud Time Machine, take a gander at the video for “Jesse James,” starring Darondo, Brooklyn soul singer Jesse Boykins III, and Oakland chanteuse Mara Hruby as actors. The retro visuals conjure up both Blaxploitation era films and Clint Eastwood’s San Francisco-based Dirty Harry. The song itself is by Happy Mayfield, a band formed by singer Lee Bob Watson and The Park.

Support good music and the Bay Area’s funk legacy by purchasing Silver Cloud Time Machine HERE.

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