My biggest advice would be to move. If you can't find anyone playing your style of music where you are get out of there. Pull a Myles Davis. Pick somewhere you think has a good scene for the music you want and then find a music school there that you can attend. You'll learn all about that jazz you've been itchin' to know, and you'll definitley find players there looking to play funk. Plus, you'll be in a pool of musicians all the time that will be better than you so you'll have to blaze.

Most musicians that I've met that haven't gotten where they wanted to only failed because they were to scared to leave their comfort and familiarity behind and jump in the pool.