James Brown - Cold Sweat

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James Brown's Cold Sweat, released in 1967, is often cited as the original funk tune. Whether or not you believe this, you can't deny that this tune is seriously funky! The groove that Clyde Stubblefield layed down on this track, characterised by the displaced backbeat at the end of bar one, is still regularly imitated today. In fact, what prompted me to post this groove is hearing drummer Billy Martin play a great variation of it on John Scofield's tune Chank.
 

James Brown - Funky Drummer

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Here it is, by request, James Brown's legendary Funky Drummer. This one bar exert represents the basic groove Clyde Stubblefield plays on this track prior to and during the famous drum break, but because he plays so many 'off the cuff' variations on it throughout the recording, I think you really need to get comfortable and experiment with it in order to reproduce the vibe of this tune. Stay loose and have fun with it! If you haven't heard this tune you can find it on James Brown's In the Jungle Groove. Enjoy!