A discussion follows of the multicultural influences that helped shape the New Orleans musical sound over the centuries: colonial rule by the Spanish and French, as well as immigrants from the Caribbean Islands and enslaved Africans.

Jon Cleary, Bob French, Michele Barard and Steve Jordan discuss the influences of Caribbean and African cultures on New Orleans music, including the practice of voodoo.

The New Orleans style of piano playing is discussed, mentioning the long line of pianists to come out of the city, and featuring James Booker, Dr. John, Fats Domino and Professor Longhair.

The importance of the Dew Drop Inn to the local musical community is mentioned, including the nightclub's rejection of racial segregation among musicians and audience members, which was illegal at the time.

[2] Art Neville recalls an incident after playing a gig in Mississippi during the 1950s when a note was left on the windshield of their car saying the band was being watched by the Ku Klux Klan.

The idea for the film was born at a visit by director Murphy and co-producer Cilista Eberle to a local music club named Donna's Bar & Grill, which features many of the city's brass bands at its North Rampart Street location.

He said that it was a "very important element" that "all of the local musicians and guest stars will walk the same streets as Louis Armstrong, Danny Barker, Sidney Bechet, Fats Domino, breathe the same air, sit on the same bar stools.

"[5] Although the film's exact budget is not known, one article described it as "seven-figures"[5] with another saying it was "close to $3 million",[8] with much of the financing coming from a Hibernia National Bank loan collateralized in part by Murphy's personal assets[5] including a second mortgage on his home.

[5] Columbia TriStar did not officially approve the project until March 25, 2004, leaving the producers with only four weeks to plan the concert, book performers, promote the show and sell tickets.

[5] The "Make It Funky" concert was held on April 27, 2004, which was the Tuesday between the two weekends of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, when the city would experience a critical mass of performers and music fans available for the show.

[9] Instead, as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina and Sony's decision to pull the film from theaters so as to not appear exploitative during the tragic time,[11][12] it had a limited, single-day theatrical release on September 9, 2005[13] in New York at the Quad Cinemas in Manhattan[14][15] and in Los Angeles at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

[15][16] There were no flashy premieres or celebrations surrounding the film's release; the Los Angeles showing was free and open to the public, with attendees asked to fill a hat with money to be given to New Orleans musicians that were displaced by the storm.

He praised the "spectacular trumpet challenge among Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield and Troy Andrews" and wrote that the film "could enjoy perfunctory big screen playdates but will really shake its tail feathers on cable and DVD".

He said the film's "only missteps are a Vegas-like medley of locally-penned early rock tunes performed by Toussaint with the Jordan-organized house band and a heartfelt but strangely out-of-place run through "I'm Ready" featuring Palmer, Washington and effusive guest Keith Richards".

[19] In his New York Times review published in conjunction with the film's limited release in that city, only 11 days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, critic A. O. Scott wrote "Make it Funky!

Michael Murphy's documentary, which celebrates the musical traditions of New Orleans … can also serve as an apt, wrenching elegy for the city's unique contribution to American culture.

"[16] A Boston Herald review by Larry Katz stated that the film "is a guaranteed blast, whether you are an expert in Crescent City sounds or a total newcomer wondering what makes New Orleans music so special" and described it as "a most entertaining history lesson".

"[17] A review of the DVD in Rolling Stone magazine stated "had the human tragedy of Hurricane Katrina been averted, this exploration of Crescent City musical history would have been a happy treat.

"[22] Mike Clark's three-star DVD review in USA Today said "Scheduled for release long before Katrina turned it into an odd mix of exuberance and heartbreak, this documentary/concert tribute to New Orleans is a bit clinical in the early going.