This month we have interviews with drummers who have mastered that intangible thing called “the groove”. In light of that, we thought a list of some classic pulses will give you a chance to see what we’re talking about.
- Art Blakey-Bobby Timmons-Jyme Merritt:“Moanin’”-the threesome team up in this blues gospel drencher that builds up with each chorues.
Sam Woodyard-Jimmy Woods-Duke Ellington: “Dimuendo and Crescendo In Blue”. From the famous 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, a riot almost erupted as this team dug deep during tenor saxist Paul Gonsalves’ 27 choruses. Career rejuvenating
- Dannie Richmond-Charles Mingus-Wade Legge; “Haitian Fight Song”. This one has a deep sinister feel, making you look over your
shoulder every now and then.
Count Basie-Freddie Green-Walter Page-Jo Jones: “One O’Clock Jump”. The epitome of swing, and while styles changed since 1937, they never got better
- Philly Joe Jones-Wynton Kelly-Paul Chambers: “Uh Huh”. This trio was the rhythm section for everyone from Miles Davis to Art Pepper, but this
session with tenor saxist Hank Mobley digs deeper than a chain gang.
- Jimmy Cobb-Wynton Kelly-Paul Chambers-Wes Montgomery: “Unit 7” without Wes “Teo”. A slight difference of pulse with Cobb, and including the iconic guitarist, things delve relentlessly on p ieces like “Unit 7”. The trio was also associated with Miles Davis, and they sure could sizzle as on the pair
of live albums from 1961.
- Booker T Jones-Steve Cropper-Al Jackson Jr-Duck Baker-“Green Onions”. Booker T and the MGs was the house band for the STAX label. They laid it down on this relentless R&B hit, as well as the classic
Otis in Europe stomping collection of concerts by Otis Redding
- Jaco Pastorius-Joe Zawinul-Chester Thompson/Badrena/Alex Acuna/Peter Erskine: “Gibralter”. Bassist Jaco Pastorius was like a gauntlet thrown at the jazz world when he hit the stage. Regardless of the drummer at the time, Weather Report put in an electric fuse into the jazz beat.
- Pat Metheny-Lyle Mays-Mark Egan-Danny Gotllieb. “The Epic” In the earliest days of his
iconic career, Pat Metheny was a member of a quartet that danced like a ballerina.
- Oscar Peterson-Herb Ellis-Ray Brown “Sweet Georgia Brown”. Essentially the house rhythm section for Verve Records, playing with EVERYONE that swung, they also set the standard for swing on their own.
Tap those toes!