Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent teaching tool for ensemble playing, May 1, 2002
This is a very complete guide to the workings of one of the great R&B rhythm sections. The book is composed of 23 lessons examining the rhythm grooves for a selection of James Brown hits. Two CDs accompany the book. The lessons are arranged in chronological order by the date the songs were cut. Each lesson has printed material including an ensemble chart and individual charts for drums, bass, and guitar. Both staff and tab are given for guitar and bass. Historical and musical comments accompany each lesson. The CDs include four tracks per lesson: an ensemble track and the three individual instruments played at a slower speed. The mix is very clear and it is easy to distinguish the individual instruments in the ensemble track. While clearly intended as teaching tools, the tracks do have a feel that keeps the music compelling.In terms of the level of difficulty, someone who didn't know this music might glance at the charts and conclude that the bass parts were (mostly) elementary, the guitar parts only slightly more difficult, while the drum parts combine fairly standard hand technique with advanced kick drum playing. Of course, this is misleading. It takes great timing to combine these parts in a way that has soul, and that's the great value of these lessons. A bass player (guitarist, drummer) trying to play this music has to really understand how he or she fits in with the other members of the ensemble. This is a very successful attempt to spell that out for the player. One quibble: the organization of the historical material helps support the lessons, but makes it difficult to read as a straight narrative. One request: how about volume two with keyboard and horn charts?
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the Bible for modern rhythm sections., August 9, 2005
James Brown and the many fine musicians who worked with him literally "wrote the book" on modern groove playing. They were the original architects of funk and, as the most sampled ensemble in history, they're also the de facto creators of hip hop's beats and the many related dance-oriented styles such as Drum and Bass, House, Trance, etc.
In fact, the influence of this ensemble is so great that it is often taken completely for granted. These aren't just the rhythms that grooving musicians play, these are the beats that our drum machines play!
Rhythm section players, particularly drummers and bassists, who haven't studied JB's music in depth, are in danger of committing malpractice. Get this book/CD package and study it or listen closely to recordings and transcribe the parts yourself. Either way, the importance of this body of work cannot be overstated and, as a contemporary rhythm section player, it will serve as the backbone of your rhythmic education.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very useful, July 13, 2006
Great learnig tool. The only criticism is there is no organ, piano, or conga. I'm a professional drummer and keep comming back back to this for information and to keep my funk chops up.
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Hal Leonard Corp.
by Hal Leonard Corp.
by Tony Oppenheim
