Just when I thought I was gonna get back on track towards the end of 2019, my laptop crashed, and it’s taken some time for me to get myself back together. Still haven’t gotten it fixed (might not be able to), but as 2020 enters it’s second full week, I should be back here posting with some regularity and catching up with the usual end/beginning of the year posts, along with some exciting news…Decided to post this, since it was the next thing I was going to do after the Mr. Bongo folks swung through LA. In addition to all of the goodies we played on KPFK, behind the scenes, I played this 45 for them, since it was something that I had no information about and I was hopeful they’d seen it before. This 45 was something I had picked up off of Ebay, during a period of time where I was searching for “private press” and “latin funk.” This one definitely fit both bills…”Falcon” starts off with some B-boy/girl-esque horns and drums, and then settles into some solid latin grooves. Once the rhodes piano solo begins, around the 2 minute mark, there’s this odd sound, which almost sounds like a DJ scratching, but given when I figure this was recorded (just from the sound I’m thinking 1974-1977), it just couldn’t possibly be a DJ, and likely is a wah-wah guitar or bass or other string instrument.
I had no clue about that or anything about the group or the record, and turns out, NO ONE else has either. I’d previously played it at Funky Sole with perplexed looks from Miles and Hector. Oliver Wang of Soul-Sides was similarly stumped, and now the cats at Mr. Bongo have proven to be clueless about this one. I’m hoping I might have some of the same luck I had with the Jazz Minstrels (more info to come on that record via one of the band members) by throwing this up here that perhaps someone who knows the band or performed in it, can solve the mysteries of this rare bit of Latin funk.