Pick the bass part up a lot. It's the best thing in the song [a real tribute to Bootsie, etc], and you need it loud to establish the tonality...what gets thrown off by the kid's piano thing.
ps: I'd love to hear some funky horn lines and a vocal to complete the pic. Hiphop, with a trad funk flavor. I like that.....paying deference to the pioneers of your craft....and it's a sound that crosses over to people older than 40.