As I read this post, those Scofield Blue Note albums with Idris, Dennis Irwin, Eddie Harris, Larry Goldings et al came to mind...As did Herlin Riley's tambourine playing...and Ed Blackwell's West African/New Orleans gumbo...and so on...
Brilliant, Vinnie, a delightful read....the connection to "Hair" made me laugh because that album exists somewhere in my collection and I never noticed it. Thanks so much!!
I’ve recently become a paid subscriber. Although I’m responding almost 9 mo later ; I felt compelled.
You asked what songs might follow in the lineage of the “ Poinciana beat… and the drummers Idris Muhammad and Earl Palmer. Though it might be considered a 60s teenybopper insignificant song “ The night has a thousand eyes… by Bobby Vee has Earl Palmer on drums. It requires attentive listening but the stuff Palmer plays is absolutely derivative of the Afro Cuban beat. I would also include Iko Iko by the Dixie cups. I remember the song as an A.M hit in the 60s it’s really a folk song ; something tacitly no longer presented for large consumption.
Gene McDaniels. Such a great singer. He had two hits in the early 60s _” A hundred pounds ..of clay and “ Tower of strength… ( Bacharach and David) I think they were early examples of pop/ soul/ R&B / fusion. I believe he spent his last years in Maine.
Thank you Mr. Conlin-- this is it, this is the stuff from readers that make this a conversation.
The songs you mention are exactly what I've wondered about. Iko Iko, of course, right on. The others I can't wait to hear. Gene McDaniels collaborated with Bobby Hutcherson; Bacharach and David; it's all here.
Thanks for this comment and for your support Drew!
thanks! great overview pulling all that together!! i was fortunate in getting to see idris in new orleans before he passed away.... didn't see the other guys live though! - i am sure you are familiar with this guy, but i am going to share it anyway for anyone who might not be.. and i think you can hear some of these grooves in ed blackwells playing for those who are hip to him!
Vernel (or "Amir" or "Abu", as he liked to be called) was a good friend as well as colleague. We played together often with Clifford Jordan's band. Thanks for writing about him!
Every drummer I've seen playing Vernel's beat smiles while playing it. Me included!
As I read this post, those Scofield Blue Note albums with Idris, Dennis Irwin, Eddie Harris, Larry Goldings et al came to mind...As did Herlin Riley's tambourine playing...and Ed Blackwell's West African/New Orleans gumbo...and so on...
Isn't Anwar Marshall from New Orleans, too?
Another good post, thank you!
Thanks Mark! I believe Mr. Marshall— who I heard just last week sounding great in Brooklyn— is from Philadelphia but I shall get in touch and check…
Ah, okay, thanks😎
Philadelphia=many deadly bassists!
Brilliant, Vinnie, a delightful read....the connection to "Hair" made me laugh because that album exists somewhere in my collection and I never noticed it. Thanks so much!!
Thank you Richard!
I’ve recently become a paid subscriber. Although I’m responding almost 9 mo later ; I felt compelled.
You asked what songs might follow in the lineage of the “ Poinciana beat… and the drummers Idris Muhammad and Earl Palmer. Though it might be considered a 60s teenybopper insignificant song “ The night has a thousand eyes… by Bobby Vee has Earl Palmer on drums. It requires attentive listening but the stuff Palmer plays is absolutely derivative of the Afro Cuban beat. I would also include Iko Iko by the Dixie cups. I remember the song as an A.M hit in the 60s it’s really a folk song ; something tacitly no longer presented for large consumption.
Gene McDaniels. Such a great singer. He had two hits in the early 60s _” A hundred pounds ..of clay and “ Tower of strength… ( Bacharach and David) I think they were early examples of pop/ soul/ R&B / fusion. I believe he spent his last years in Maine.
Thank you Mr. Conlin-- this is it, this is the stuff from readers that make this a conversation.
The songs you mention are exactly what I've wondered about. Iko Iko, of course, right on. The others I can't wait to hear. Gene McDaniels collaborated with Bobby Hutcherson; Bacharach and David; it's all here.
Thanks for this comment and for your support Drew!
The Meters "Art" is my personal fave in this category.
Hi Jacob! Nice, will check…
And then there’s the “ham bone” and Bo Diddly beat... the New Orleans clave.
Mr. Soph, great point! That would make a great article, a survey of the Bo Diddley beat, how it connects to NOLA, Afro-Cuban, etc. Thanks for reading!
thanks! great overview pulling all that together!! i was fortunate in getting to see idris in new orleans before he passed away.... didn't see the other guys live though! - i am sure you are familiar with this guy, but i am going to share it anyway for anyone who might not be.. and i think you can hear some of these grooves in ed blackwells playing for those who are hip to him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm__cwoUBGc
Thanks James!
James Black will get an article because I need to learn more about him…
Yes, thank you!
Vernel (or "Amir" or "Abu", as he liked to be called) was a good friend as well as colleague. We played together often with Clifford Jordan's band. Thanks for writing about him!