Another of Hazel's songs that awes me is "Music for My Mother", off of Funkadelic's self-titled debut album. Unlike the futuristic, psychedelic landscape created by "Maggot Brain", "Music for My Mother" is reminiscent of older blues and spiritual music, or what is referred to in the song as "way-back yonder funk." In the song, Hazel does not unleash any blazing solos as he does in "Maggot Brain", but instead uses his guitar to lay down riffs that mesh with the rest of the band's drums, bass and numerous vocalists. Hazel also uses his a wah effect with his guitar to create a sound resembling a harmonica.
The thing that amazed me most about Hazel's playing in "Music for My Mother" is what he doesn't play. He is able to lock in with the band and create an overall atmosphere without doing too much or showing off. This ability to contribute without playing excessively is something that is lacking in a lot of modern guitar music, where skill is often judged by how fast or technically proficient a guitarist is, not how creative they are.
