Master Of Funk

It's sad to hear of the death of Clyde Stubblefield – one of the drumming legends who helped create the James Brown sound.

His playing on 'Funky Drummer' is said to be the most 'sampled' of all time – and has turned up on countless recordings.

For 'sampled', read 'ripped off'... Clyde Stubblefield received nothing for this. Apart from huge respect from other drummers.

For wonderful insights into the inventive achievements of Stubblefield and fellow James Brown drummer Jabo Starks, you can't do better than study 'Groove Alchemy' by Stanton Moore, a book that I've mentioned before but which deserves special mention for being one of the finest drumming books ever written.

Groovy Writer

There are so many drum tuition books, and, perhaps surprisingly, so many good drum tuition books. But of the good ones there are only a few that score on the word content as well as the music.

One of these rarities is 'Groove Alchemy' by Stanton Moore. It's a fantastic analysis of the great grooves created by some of the funkiest drummers, with lots and lots of beats lovingly transcribed.

But, as with Royal Hartigan's 'West African Rhythms for Drumset' which I mentioned in a recent post, you get not just marvellous music to play but also an articulate, passionate and clearly written guide to the subject.

Stanton Moore, like Hartigan, has done a great service to drummers… and also helped make it clear that good drumming and a sharp intelligence go hand in hand.