Click on the album covers for words and to download sound clips...

Staple Singers	Maceo Parker	Grace Jones	Funkadelic
Defunkt	Salif Keita	Boz Scaggs	Led Zeppelin

As it's the middle of August and I'm feeling a little sticky, I thought I'd indulge myself with some sticky stuff. On occassion, I have been heard to opine that, although the standard of drumming is fantabulous, jazz drummers can't do groove. Not having hit the skins in anger for some ten years - and never in a jazzy fashion - I am humbled by the technique on show at the Spice. But from the safety of the website I can say what I like without some smart-arse saying, "So go on then, show us what you can do." I'll leave that to the experts... but note: the usual suspects are not here: no Steve Gadd, no Harvey Mason, no Terry Bozio. Then again, Mick Fleetwood, Stephen Jo Bladd, 'Zig' Modeliste and Ndugu Chancler aren't here either. Wish I could. But I will say to jazz drummers backing a soulful toon: If you have an urge to throw in a flam-paradiddle - don't. If you want to want to twinkle around the cymbals in a verse - don't. Get on the One, up for the down stroke, in the groove... and stay there.