AMG Review of 100% Pure Funk

Steve Leggett
All Music Guide

100% Pure Funk collects portions of three performances by Hammond B-3 player Jimmy McGriff, two from 1973 and one from 1974. McGriff has a laid-back, comfortable, and lived-in sound, mixing blues and gospel influences into a small combo jazz setting, best showcased here on an original composition (written by McGriff and producer Sonny Lester) called "Blues for a Broken Down Funky Old Bus," which perfectly catches the warm tone and feel of these sessions. The only problem here is the title of the album, since these aren't funk outings, and given McGriff's later exploration of funk rhythms on albums like Tail Gunner, it is bound to confuse folks looking for heavier McGriff material.