In the Raw

Whitefield Brothers

Now-Again Records

With a respectful homage to the early pioneers of funky jazz, the Whitefield Brothers step up with “In The Raw” and indulge in the type of instrumental jams that are as cutting edge as, well, 1970.

Originally released in 2001 by the now-defunct label Soul Fire, this 12-track collection of funky goodness has been reissued by their new label, Now-Again Records.

With a sound reminiscent of early work by the Meters and the Bar-Kays, each track takes you back to a time when there were funk bands that didn’t care about having singers, and they still gave the drummer some.

Full of infectious grooves and a passive-aggressive edge, the album is solid from beginning to end.

The Beastie Boys offered a similar sound with their album “The Mix Up,” but “In The Raw” exudes more heart and serves as an essential piece of modern funk history.