A seminal track f rom New Orleans’ funk pioneers

DRUMMER: Zigaboo Modeliste


Most funk drumming is based around the three voices of kick, snare and hats. ‘Cissy Strut’ is no exception. However, it also features a broken 16th note hi-hat pattern, in so much as it’s neither playing eighth or 16th notes. And upon listening to the track one might assume that the right hand is playing the hi-hat and the left the snare. But drummer Zigaboo Modeliste actually plays it open-handed, so breaking up the broken 16th notes between the hands resulting in quite a different feel. Another aspect of the track’s sound is the degree of swing. In other words, where the feel falls between being completely straight or swung. And ‘Cissy Strut’ lies in the funky, swampy area lying somewhere between the two, a feel that’s clearly a fundamental part of Zigaboo’s drumming. The main groove is played open-handed with the broken 16th notes played between the hands.


Heads Up – Second LineThe Meters are a seminal funk band f rom New Orleans who fused the funk sound with New Orlean’s own second line rhythms. ‘Second line’ refers to a traditional New Orleans funeral procession where the musicians would form a second line behind the deceased’s family. Within this second line of musicians would normally be two drummers, one playing a snare drum, one playing a bass drum, and the two would underpin the music with swinging syncopated rhythms, loosely based around the clave, and moving accents back and forth. These two elements, the swampy swing feel and clave-esque syncopation, are qualities that infuse The Meters’ music and can clearly be heard here on ‘Cissy Strut’.


To read the rest of the details of the track check out Issue 296 of Rhythm Magazine (March 2020).
If you like these videos please do consider subscribing (if you haven't already) to the magazine where there are transcriptions and challenging exercises to do with all sorts of lessons. www.rhythmdrumnetwork.com

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