Shuffling

i can't shuffle for the life of me. damn shame

here, here shedder! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Hey, thanks a bunch guys! I'll work on the ghost note stuff and loosening up then I'll post a video sometime and you can see if I have progressed at all.

Thanks again!

So as I was saying in my last post, a shuffle groove doesn't have to played heavy and with venom, in fact this generally detracts from the groove.... and talking of groove (nice link!!) Here's an fine example from the great Mel Lewis. It's the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra with The Groove Merchant.

The arrangement is just stunning and the shout chorus is one of my favourites. I know it's not a half time shuffle as played by Johnny, but check out how light and bouncy the feel is.

Enjoy. [img]smile.gif[/img]

The Groove Merchant

Mel is something!

Notice the accents, with the kick
and the snare. Dynamic!! I believe
it's about contrast. If you stay up
on it, there's only one place for you
to go and that's down! You know
what I mean? You have to keep it
down. It can be sharp but make
that in contrast to another section.

Great example of the shuffle, Dazz!!

On the half-time, Pretty is the stand-
ard for me - the Steely stuff iconic!

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 02, 2004 04:02 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

I can understand trying to get it just right. I'm an expert at it. People ask me all the time how I pull it off so effortlessly every time. It's actually been handed down, so to speak, through my family's generations. I've had people from other parts of the world tell me they want to get a taste of it. Yes sir, my souffle is second to none.

Oh, wait a minute....I just reread the posts. Never mind. I'm always working on that damn shuffle. Think I'll start working on how I look attempting it. I really put a lot of weight to that old expression. Thanks for the reminder, Daz.

Glad you enjoyed the Mel Lewis Peter, he's just so pretty! And talking of pretty - there's Bernard! I saw him at the Jazz Cafe in London a few months back and dtood a few feet away from his kit - I couldn't stop smiling. TThe man oozes groove.

piccupstix, now I'm really confused!!

[img]confused.gif[/img]

Great tune Dazz, cheers! Mel Gives it a real happy, light feel with no overplaying at all. Nice.

Hey Dazzler thanks for that tune... its got some great movement!

Johnny, I can't play your video clip so I can't comment. Sorry.

Thanks for the tune Dazz. Mel has a superb feel. His version of "Fly me to the moon" is the 1st big band tune I attempted to play.

And talking about half-time shuffle. The very 1st time I heard this groove was on Uzeb 1st album "Fast emotions" (1982) with Paul Brochu on drums. I was in my young metal phase but I became fascinated by this groove and the ghosting. I learned it by myself by ear, rolling the tape hundreds of time, even though it was a jazz record.
Here's a sample of Junk Funk (doesn't sound to good but it gives the idea):
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/clipserve/B000005FQX001008/0/103-9526190-8707044"]Junk Funk[/ame]

Then I heard Rosanna. Since Toto IV also came out in 1982, I was convinced that Jeff had stolen Paul's groove (Hey, it must be the rock guy who steals the jazz guy! [img]wink.gif[/img] ). After that, I learned that Bernard did it before them.

My 3rd exposition to this groove was on a not so well known album by french/gypsy guitarist Bireli Lagrene "Inferno" (1987). Bernard shares the drum chair with Weckl, Pierre Moerlen and Dan Gotllieb. Here's a sample of Rock It with "Pretty" Purdie:
Rock It

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 03, 2004 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Tombo 7/4 ]</font>