Rhythm Kings

I've said this before but George Recile is a drumming genius... which makes him the perfect percussionist for accompanying the musical genius of Bob Dylan.

I had the privilege of seeing them both – and the rest of Dylan's remarkable band – in Cardiff last night, with the master's voice and songs and piano-playing all in great shape.

Apparently when Dylan aficionado the late John Gibbens gave a talk on Bob's poetry, he used to start off by playing a Dylan instrumental.

That might sound odd but, on reflection, it's not at all odd. Because you can hear the essence of Dylan in every strum of his guitar and every note of his harmonica. And the key to everything he does – the words he chooses, the way he sings them, the way he plays piano or harmonica, the way he moves, even the way he stands – is rhythm.

Dylan is not just rock'n'roll's Nobel laureate... he is also the King of Rhythm.

And it's no wonder that George Recile finds in Dylan's music the most wonderful variety of drum patterns, fills and grooves. With George one side of the stage and Bob the other, it really is difficult to know which to watch. Either way, they're locked in tight... in rhythm.

King George

According to Keith Richards, Charlie Watts once thumped Mick Jagger when Jagger referred to Charlie as "his drummer". Quite right too. But I suspect George Recile may not take such great offence at being known as "Bob Dylan's drummer".

He has served on Bob's Never Ending Tour for years and years (as have the rest of the Dylan band) and but when they pitched up at London's Albert Hall this week for five nights, they sounded as fresh – and hot and cool – as they ever did.

Recile, with his ability to switch from a delicate waltz to hard rock, from swinging jazz to a pin-drop-quiet ballad, is the perfect drummer for Dylan, always propelling the music forward but never playing too loud or too much. His two-handed New Orleans rhythms are a delight to watch as well as hear.

And Bob? Like all the reviews have been saying, he has found a new and remarkable voice to deliver his Sinatra-esque ballads as well as his tougher-edged material. His genius is undimmed.

Long may he sing... and long may George Recile play the drums.