First Bassist of Funk George Porter Jr. Continues a New Orleans tradition

Few sounds are as infectiously timeless as New Orleans funk. Credit bassist George Porter Jr. for helping create that unstoppable sonic template while he was a member of the Meters in the mid-'60s. He has since maintained the smoldering grooves as a side man for the likes of David Byrne and with various other bands of his own, including Porter Batiste Stoltz.

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Revolution Live

100 SW 3rd Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Category: Music Venues

Region: Fort Lauderdale

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Porter Batiste Stoltz: Saturday, July 11. Revolution, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15. 954-727-0950; jointherevolution.net

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• George Porter Jr.
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• David Byrne
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And Porter is used to younger audiences rediscovering his work. Rappers sampled him often in the '80s and '90s (often without royalties), and now contemporary jam bands are re-creating those fabulously funky rhythms. "I have noticed for quite some time that I'm playing to the same age crowd I played to 40 years ago," Porter says, laughing. "I'm thankful for several things: the jam community, the Meters, and the young players who followed in our footsteps." He pauses and then adds, "They have always acknowledged where they're coming from — unlike the hip-hop community."

The Meters disbanded in 1977, and much later, the Funky Meters emerged in 1994. In addition to founding Meter Art Neville on keyboards/vocals and Porter on bass, the Funky Meters featured drummer Russell Batiste Jr. and guitarist Brian Stoltz. After Art returned to the Neville Brothers in the early '00s, Porter Batiste Stoltz, known commonly as PBS, materialized. The group's debut disc, Expanding the Funkin' Universe, dropped in 2005.

The trio's latest album, the live documentary Moodoo, is culled from a November 2, 2007 show featuring onetime Phish member Page McConnell on keyboards. It's vintage Meters-style funk spiced with space rock and more vocals, courtesy of all three PBS members. "I do think it has more of a rock edge — absolutely," Porter says. "We jam out a little more because it's just a trio and it allows for getting away from chord formulas."