World Wide Funk [LP] *

A 70-minute album from Bootsy Collins in 2017 might seem superfluous, given the bassist's half-a-century of service and incontrovertible status as a crucial figure in the genesis and progression of funk. Better then to treat World Wide Funk less like an addition to an immense discography and more like a porta-party. That's not a tall order. As colorful as its packaging with high spirits to match, World Wide Funk is loaded with enough guests to pack the mothership, with late P-Funk associate Bernie Worrell, Stanley Clarke, Chuck D, Musiq Soulchild, and Kali Uchis a small representation of the cross-generational attendees. After some spoken mythology from Iggy Pop, the album kicks into gear with a go-go title track that somehow leaves enough space for Doug E. Fresh's jovial beat-boxing and rhymes, and Buckethead's characteristically flashy guitar solo. Apart from a handful of interspersed ballads -- one heartfelt, a couple on the sleazy side -- that high energy level is kept up throughout, with inspired playing from all of the involved across cuts that mostly bounce and sometimes glide across the dancefloor. A clever move among a few is the slight resemblance of slow jam "Worth My While" to "I'd Rather Be with You," the 1976 Bootsy hit that Childish Gambino referenced 40 years later for "Redbone," certified triple platinum just a month prior to this album's release. Even without that affirmation, it would be clear that Bootsy's relevance remains everlasting. ~ Andy Kellman