The best funk band: early Earth, Wind and Fire (before 1976 when they lost themselves into disco). Their funk was harmonically rich and rhythmically complex: A blend of jazz, soul, funk and R&B. Listen to their live double record Gratitude (1975).
Never been a big funk fan until the unreleased demo instrumentals of midnight express got released on People’s Potential United (check out their catalog if you havent): https://ppudc.bandcamp.com/album/the-midnight-express-show-b...
Also some demo’s by Prince are amazing.
Not sure, but the rawness just breathes life and blows most studio stuff out of the water.
[Edit] bonus end game track: https://youtu.be/dQN3fxoIOpk (thank you Gilles Peterson)
Midnight Express sounds like machine programmed.
The real thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pA2tXOjDto&list=PLxh03o1BpV...