I want to write a piece of music for the band I'm in, but need soem assistance... We want to do a kind of funk piece, with lots of room for solos. I've traditionally done swing music or classical, so I'm not really sure of what to use yet. I listen to some funk but am not really sure what I want to use. Do any of you know where I can find an online reference for basic funk rhythms and chords?
By the by, the configuration of the band is:

Clarinet/Tenor Sax/Vocals (me)
Piano
Drums
Guitar/Trumpet
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax/Alto Sax

I plan on it mostrly being an improv piece, so I just need ideas for the piano, guitar, and drums mostly. Then we'll see what we can cook up.

Well, it's pretty easy to make up a cute little funk riff, then if you have chord changes any competent rhythm section could comp it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk

No bass? That's one of the critical components of funk!

yeh, I know, we're lacking a bass. I don't really know any bas players, and the only one I do really know has been off and on, and isn't interested... so right now we're basically working with the piano as bass.

Not sure if we'll really get it to work, none of use have really played nay funk before, so I don't expect them to just pick it up quickly by ear. But, we'll see.

Still trying to find as much info as I can to help them out though. Good thing to do anyhow, since i'm going into music ed.