Thanks for talking about the Letterman performance, guys. We had WAYYYYYY too much fun doing it-it was year #1 and in the following 33 years, it never got any better han that night. Mr Brown was the Schnizzle and will always be the best!
Holy Smokes! Will Lee! A tip of the hat to you, sir. I watched the Late Night/Late Show band from the beginning and all the way through. Oh, the musical memories. You guys were something else.
Mr. Lee, please let me take this time to tell you how freaking phenomenal I think you are! You have been one of my Top 5 Favorite bass players since I first saw you on the Letterman show in the early 80's! I STRONGLY believe that there is NOTHING that you CAN'T play! I saw a video of you playing the two different versions of "I Heard it through the grapevine" original played by bass LEGEND Mr.James Jamison and just like him you did it EFFORTLESSLY! VERY IMPRESSIVE MY DUDE!!! Much brotherly love to you ALWAYS!!!
If you listen to James Brown and see him preform you will realize he was one of the greatest creators of modern music and influenced most R&B and hip hop artists.
Was there ever a time James Brown didn’t sound like a grown man? I think that’s part of why he’s so commanding of our attention. As much as it’s preacher/congregation, he’s also kind of a drill sergeant for the groove army.
Long before there were music videos, I got a chance to see JB in a small venue. I had always been blown away by the grooves he set up, but in person I saw the two drummers and all became clear. Having a great bass player - same for the horns - made his music unlike any other. And I'll never forget his trademark at the end of the show - collapsing from exhaustion, being helped off the stage, and then throwing off the cape they covered him with and running back to front and center then notching things up to another level for his encore.
I was lucky to see James Brown in the early '80's at the Channel in Boston. Boston had a pretty hard shutdown at 2:00 AM (I think because alcohol sales stopped at 1:30 AM). My memory is that James Brown and his band came on around 10:00 PM (ish) (I don't remember a warm-up band) and played almost exactly 45 minutes -- took a 15 minute break and played for another 45 minutes. I think many of us newbies thought that was it. But they took a 15 minute break, and played another 45 minutes. They repeated that cycle until about 3:00 AM. Closing time be damned! Definitely "The Hardest Working Man in Showbiz!"
It's unfortunate that JB became cartoonish to a generation who didn't grow up with him. James and his bands were the REAL DEAL and forever changed music for the better.
@@michaelbell8627 eddie didn't know jack squat about REAL FUNK!!! Check that stupid punk song he made Party ALL The Time!! THERE WAS ZERO funk in it! He can't spell funk! He needs to sit down with that girlie man sissy song!
James Brown was the Godfather of Soul! His style, delivery, and all-out raw feeling have never been matched, nor ever will be. He set the bar for soul/funk!
There is no higher compliment for Shaffer as a musician than this. The best of the best. James Brown wouldn't play with Ed Sullivan's band in 1966, but brings the house down with Shaffer's band.
As a musician i know how long it takes, to get a James Brown song together with your band and i´m happy to see these pros really struggling like everybody who´s not locked in.
Yeah, I’ve never heard of him, but I’m gonna check it out after this video, based on just what I heard here. I was glad to see Mac Miller’s Good News get a shoutout as well. It’s a great song, though it feels sadly prophetic too.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 yea bro listen to the whole album gives big the band and prince like influence! I haven’t listen to Mac in a min boutta blast good news to honor him 🍻
One purpose of the soul and funk of James Brown was like a partner outreach program for musicians who knew their community and advanced universal virtues in music similar to comedy and these people who are acting to improve access to grateful students from venerable teachers within the discipline of entertaining with music. I remember the 60s with Magnificent 7 in Louisville where the musicians needed to know their dancing parts together with the lead man driving the band. Thank you kindly for your words praising James Brown, James Brown, James Brown. House of Blues is to many his molding of dancers, singers, musicians who dance and play which is an extreme gift to behold. Visiting the show online captures the "beauty of it" when appreciating the internet.
I had the pleasure and honour of interviewing Mr. Brown in 1982, when he came to our city. Spent about 45 minutes chatting with him on the sofa in his hotel suite. I asked him if there was anyone he hadn't worked with yet that he would like to work with. His reply...and I am not shitting you, I have it on tape... *Barbara Streisand* . I was, of course, more than a little taken aback. "Why her?", I asked him. Because, he said, he thought he could teach her a few things about "soul". Not one for modesty, that fella. I asked him if he would consider going into preaching, as Al Green had done by that point. He replied that he was already preaching in his music. As I was leaving, he introduced me to the guy who introduced him and put the cape on him. I joked to the guy that "He better not fire you, because I don't know where you'll get another job like that", gesturing to Brown with my thumb. The guy laughed, but Mr. Brown did not take kindly to being referred to in the third person. But, the very definition of groove. Second greatest performance on Letterman? George Clinton.
I'm sure Mr. Brown was also offended by your stereotypical question about preaching, and I'm sure his emcee was offended by your comment about his job---which suggested that he could do nothing else. I advise you to do more reading about American history and race relations and the underlying white racism that has infected the nation for far too long.
It's almost like James Brown is the original truest expression of the modern DJ metaphorically and sonically. Each piece in the backing band becomes almost like a fader or a knob or a switch or pad that he wants to initiate at whim with the groove. Way ahead of his time, he is almost like the analog to the modern DJ setup and definition (that definition being one that puts one individual into all the electronics to create the energy for the room and many moving bodies). James Brown accomplished the same kind of performance by strong leadership of other human pieces and a stringent discipline on the beat and his conducting. Add the killer stinger vocals not unlike an airhorn in terms of memorability and ear worminess, all the pieces seem to be there for such a comparison to my ears and eyes, as his dance moves add that final visual component. Amazing stage presence and sonic wizardry, the whole performance package
100%... James Brown invented the style DJ's are still using today. Dropping out beats, repeated "samples", interlocking patterns that fuse together to make a single complex rhythm... etc. all live though! It's too good!
See James Brown doing 'Please Please Please' on the TAMI show. The dude and his band made electric band music legitimate. Opera, blues, etc. all meld into one.
This is simply best discussion and demonstration by real technically and artistically committed professional who get towering credibility at their first note
I love how the fact that Cold Sweat is "only" "two bars of material" means you all have the time to do a really really deep dive into it, because if anyone deserves a thorough treatment like that it's James Brown
I love to hear real musicians break down a song this way. Once you hear songs taken apart and put back together you hear accompanying parts and various rhythms so much more clearly the next time you hear the song played.
That was amazing! I have always loved James Brown. A true American treasure, and you guys just totally gave JB his flowers with this show. No less than Letterman understanding in the moment something special was happening live. What an influence on the world's music stage. I do think for a reference of the time and any other music artist that should always be mentioned with JB is Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti.
I was lucky enough to see the James Brown in 2003 at the Gathering of the Vibes music festival in upstate NY and me and my dad were blown away! We will never forget it. Unreal band and the energy he brought even at that point in his life was simply stunning. Truly the Greatest Showman and Bandleader ever!
Thank you SO much for talking about James Brown! He's such an icon and as usual I learn so much about music from these videos. Keep up the good work!!!
that "get on up" live performance was incredible. I love the raw approach of live performances and improvisational skill, it truly shows the act of musicianship. Its why the best rappers alive are some of the best freestylers alive, its improv/ feel and its something more than music, its a connection to everyone experiencing that moment, like a language beyond speech. When you watch the video you can just feel it.
I just hope you guys know how much good you're doing to younger artists like myself. The education is just unimaginably exciting, and I love how open you guys are to anything new or old. So happy I finally get to hear James Brown and understand the greatness! Also really happy Jack mentioned Mac Miller, one of the newest greats! I highly suggest listening to Circles front to back, I think you guys will love The Beatles references etc :D
Wow! There must be 150 music lessons in this! These four contemporary pros analyze, dissect, then reassemble this '80s James Brown performance in its totality in a way that really allows us to appreciate a great musical moment more than we (thought we) had before. A great job, fellas!
To me, what really drives this version is Will Lee bass tone. It's so punchy and comes through even on a 3" TV speaker. Then the whole band has the funk articulation down. The notes are the exact length they need to be. Pure magic!
As transcendent as the first two songs of this epic set were, I think it's the third (unexpected) song--"I Got A Feeling"--that truly shows how completely in sync these musicians were. The reason for this is that this song was never meant to be performed live by this combo. It came about because Paul and the band played a vocal-less version of the song as one of the musical "stingers" leading into and out of commercial. You can hear a brief snippet of that in the existing show clips here on YT. James was apparently so impressed by the band's knowledge of the song--remember that he had already run through "Sex Machine" and "There Was A Time" with them the day before--that he asked if the band could do "I Got A Feeling" to close the show. And this was UNREHEARSED. And they f*cking KILLED IT. It was criminal how NBC was forced to kill the song just as it was steaming towards its climax. I'm hoping that maybe Dave or Paul or someone at NBC has the complete performance somewhere in their archives.
I saw James Brown many times… mostly with my elderly ( conservative) mother….dressed in her perfect sweater and pearls she would jump up out of her seat , then on to her seat and yell… hey! Hey ! Hey! And dance and shout through the whole show….He was magic! His band was a driving groove I’ll never forget….and I was one lucky little girl to see it up close in sweaty person…no show has ever been so dynamic…. Even the Stones…. Or Ike and Tina…..or the Beatles. And Jimi…. All fantastic but not that funky groove that makes you jump out of your seat and dance!great times to remember…
It was well known around the music industry that James Brown was named "The Hardest working man is Show Business" and he earned the moniker of "The God Father of Soul".
I love Sean’s comment at 34:06 - there was some kinda joyful magic happening that was bigger than the sun of all the parts put together. Letterman saw it, the crew saw it, amd the director of the show saw it… and they let james do his thing 🙌🏻
Side note I think a lot of people don't realize that John Bonham covered this music before Zep and idolized these kinds of groovy ass drummers. You hear that flavor in his groove.
These are really insightful and fun comments and realizations shared for our enjoyment and education. Thanks, pro’s for putting this out here. We are in the golden age of music education and collaboration.
Something so critical to the groove of James' band(s) was each member having great internal time. With every member having that solid internal clock, the tempo James set didn't really matter since they all just went with his tempo -- set it and forget it 😊. That's true in general. When you get a group of musicians together who have excellent time, it's much easier to lock as a unit and not have everyone lean on the drummer (or whomever).
I knew I loved you guys. If I had had sons I would hope them to be just like y'all. I am blown away by the similarities of our musical influences. Here it comes nothing but the truth. First time I heard James Brown was Ed Sullivan I instantly recognized our similarities. We react dance to every note and drum beat. I might have been seven and was a ballet student studying dance. Mr Gretsch thank you for also showing Gretsch instruments. Mr. Gretsch would send new releases to my brothers and I when my father Mr Gentsch (also Pa. Dutch) was in New York. So we heard the new and progressive in the early 60s in Brownsville Texas. Heard Paul Shaffer on TV also long before Letterman. I must go on to the highlight of my late 20s or early 30s. James Brown came to see me!
I remember the Letterman performance when it aired. As soon as JB started, I just felt something unique was happening. The best part is when Letterman knew he lost the show and had the smarts to just stay out of the way and let it happen. It was magic, and everyone knew it.
You better believe that! Mr. James Brown wa 1,000,000,000 etc.% in " CHARGE COMPLETELY"!!! NO R&B BAND LIKE THE JAMES BROWN (JB's) Band!! 6 grade education. Could not read music BUT "CREATE"MUSIC! ONLY GOD CREATE!!! FATHER GOD "LIVES in Mr. James Brown!! Godfather of the music industry. What he says"WENT"!!!! For those of you that doesn't know this. Mr. Brown gave the Rapper's their I 'st chances to record! Mr, Brown said: "Wait a Minute", these kids have something to say! Let's listen. But the Rapper's so-called music had gotten out of hand (not music, negativity and destructive "trouble")!! Mr. Brown realized that and was going band(put an end to Rap Music, But the God Father died on Xmas Day). He was going to make the "Announcement" in New York City,New Years Eve night.After the dropping of the Ball. Along with Dick Clark! He did not live to do that! Dick Clark cried!! His Death is very suspicious!!! Also Mr. Brown gave the United States of America. Their 1st."FOOD STAMPS"!!! YES, THAT IS THE TRUTH! PAID FOR BY MR. JAMES BROWN!!! 1969-1971 THESE THINGS and so MUCH MORE
Say It "LOUD"!!!! "WHAT"??? MR.JAMES BROWN! NEVER DID WANT THE TITLE "KING"!! He said that he DOESN'T WANT TO BE KING OF NOTHING! THEIR IS ONLY "1" KING! SAID MR. BROWN. FATHER GOD ALMIGHTY! I HEARD HIM AND SAW HIM SAYING THAT. HE SAID, YOU CAN GIVE THAT TITLE TO ELVIS PRESLEY or Somebody. But, I DON'T WANT IT! "SOUL BROTHER NO.1 OK. GODFATHER O.K. I WISH THIS GREAT BROTHER HAD LIVED AT LEAST TO JAN.2! WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE. ESPECIALLY OF THE BLACK YOUTHS!!!! THANK YOU MY LOVING DEAR BROTHER, LOVE and Miss YOU SO MUCH!!! I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT HAPPY or Satisfy the way this so-called music have turned out and the DAMAGE 'S it have created and cost. The minds and behavior of most of the Black YOUTHS! What a Shame! Marvin Gaye saw it!!!
well, I'm back. thanx for sending me back in time, I just watched it again. I do remember being in my little apt.,smoking a little reefer, saying to myself, "he's no kid anymore. how does he keep up the pace?" I was 20 something, thinking he was old. he performed 'til NBC closed the doors (but we all know it was taped around 7 PM ).
Awesome stuff. That Letterman performance really is something incredible. I was surprised there was no mention in the Cold Sweat breakdown that the horn line is Miles Davis' 'So What' warped by funk syncopation. Just putting those two tracks side-by-side creates a decent illustration of what funk is.
“I gotcha now…” That story of JB being the conductor with his feet and everything else. One of his songs you hear that “I gotcha now..”. If a horn stab was suppose to happen when JB kicks to the side or whatever. If the players missed their stab it was $50 per slip. Miss the stab, “I gotcha now.” $50. I’m sure you guys know all that. Just what I heard. Good stuff. Thanks 🤙
I've just discovered this video and channel and I love it! James Brown is my favorite Artist and he's the reason I'm A Drummer! " Cold Sweat" was the first song I heard from James Brown and I've been A Fan ever since! Thanks guys!😎
If you listen to a lot of interviews of musiscians that played with JB, they tell you, that he was conducting with his movements and dancing. All the section changes, the stop whre he tells the audience to party and even that out of time stop at the end, he was dancing these rhythms with his body. Steve Jordan said, that he and the whole band grew up on JB`s music and they had known all the songs for years and they also knew how he moved and that he was conducting this way. They might have rehearsed the last stop during the soundcheck but they knew how and when to change sections and when to play hits and stops, just by looking at and listening to him.
27:30 - The answer is "yes", it was calculated. I've read/seen more interviews with James and his former band members than I can remember, and the one theme that was crystal clear was that James wanted the band to be _prepared_ for anything/everything, and he absolutely planned things like when the band would talk. And he likely gave the band a heads-up about the possibility of that break in the beginning. James was known as the ultimate showman. Part of that was knowing how to connect with a crowd; the other part of that was _ensuring_ that the band would not mess up his intention of connecting with the crowd.
A few things I haven't heard mentioned, Letterman's band dream gig was to be backing James Brown, they were in heaven, they were also still fresh as they were just getting going as a late night show, James was also in the era where he was getting a bit old on the scene, finally Dave liked to feature the band at different times He enjoyed and respected them.
One of the most famous hits of the king of rock 'n' roll in an unrivaled gorgeous, phenomenal performance by Diana Ankudinova ( 18 y.o.) Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley / DARK VERSION cover) Please react to Diana Ankudinova ! Meet the singer with the most unique voice (dramatic contralto with polyphonic overtones), reactors call her the goosebump queen. "Together with her tessitura, it identifies her potential voice type as dramatic contralto, the deepest, darkest, and most powerful contralto voice." (Wikipedia about Diana). UA-camrs from all over the world are very fond of making reactions to Diana and now Diana has more than 12 thousand such reactions.
Nice reaction 👌 It'll be interesting to know your reaction to the best female contralto in the world 🌎 Diana Ankudinova ! Pleaaaase 🙏 Sure you'll enjoy listening to our treasure 💖
Thanks for talking about the Letterman performance, guys. We had WAYYYYYY too much fun doing it-it was year #1 and in the following 33 years, it never got any better han that night. Mr Brown was the Schnizzle and will always be the best!
And you are grooving like heck! Incredible precision Sir.
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
You guys were tight!!
Holy Smokes! Will Lee! A tip of the hat to you, sir. I watched the Late Night/Late Show band from the beginning and all the way through. Oh, the musical memories. You guys were something else.
Mr. Lee, please let me take this time to tell you how freaking phenomenal I think you are! You have been one of my Top 5 Favorite bass players since I first saw you on the Letterman show in the early 80's! I STRONGLY believe that there is NOTHING that you CAN'T play! I saw a video of you playing the two different versions of "I Heard it through the grapevine" original played by bass LEGEND Mr.James Jamison and just like him you did it EFFORTLESSLY! VERY IMPRESSIVE MY DUDE!!! Much brotherly love to you ALWAYS!!!
Will Freakin Lee U R Da Man!!!!!!
If you listen to James Brown and see him preform you will realize he was one of the greatest creators of modern music and influenced most R&B and hip hop artists.
introducing names on their music recommendations is such a slick edit and very on brand. great stuff
Yessssss!
Soul Brother Number ONE. Thank you forEVER
Was there ever a time James Brown didn’t sound like a grown man? I think that’s part of why he’s so commanding of our attention. As much as it’s preacher/congregation, he’s also kind of a drill sergeant for the groove army.
James Brown preaching at the Triple Rock in the Blues Brothers - Ackroyd had worked that out of JB a long time ago
JskBet . Perfect observation 👌🏾❤️
@Zed, “I don’t need no jive assed preacher talkin’ to me about heaven and hell”.
Unless it’s James Brown. He’ll make you see the light.
Jack’s childlike joy playing the heck out of his piano part brings me a lot of joy
What a voice James Brown had, just so unique. You can tell he has been through a lot :)
The closest I've heard in recent times is the amazing Kenton Chen - from memory, the cover of Hey Jude by Scary Pockets! (Right at the end 😉)
@@cooldebt Closest thing these days is Ramon W with his song Bodywiper
Long before there were music videos, I got a chance to see JB in a small venue. I had always been blown away by the grooves he set up, but in person I saw the two drummers and all became clear. Having a great bass player - same for the horns - made his music unlike any other. And I'll never forget his trademark at the end of the show - collapsing from exhaustion, being helped off the stage, and then throwing off the cape they covered him with and running back to front and center then notching things up to another level for his encore.
Total master at his craft.
I was lucky to see James Brown in the early '80's at the Channel in Boston. Boston had a pretty hard shutdown at 2:00 AM (I think because alcohol sales stopped at 1:30 AM). My memory is that James Brown and his band came on around 10:00 PM (ish) (I don't remember a warm-up band) and played almost exactly 45 minutes -- took a 15 minute break and played for another 45 minutes. I think many of us newbies thought that was it. But they took a 15 minute break, and played another 45 minutes. They repeated that cycle until about 3:00 AM. Closing time be damned!
Definitely "The Hardest Working Man in Showbiz!"
It's unfortunate that JB became cartoonish to a generation who didn't grow up with him. James and his bands were the REAL DEAL and forever changed music for the better.
Blame Eddie Murphy for that.
@@michaelbell8627 eddie didn't know jack squat about REAL FUNK!!! Check that stupid punk song he made Party ALL The Time!! THERE WAS ZERO funk in it! He can't spell funk! He needs to sit down with that girlie man sissy song!
All everyone has to do is watch the T.A.M.I. show to get a masterclass of James Brown.
And now..current music sounds cartoon music
@@michaelbell8627 No, it was the Blues Brothers.
His SNL performance was 😎 too.
As a bassist, I love watching Sean Hurley play. His fingers just glide over the fretboard. It's like he's barely touching the instrument.
From some live videos of James BROWN & the band the bass comes through loud and strong. It's really awesome .
P
O ,,
James Brown was the Godfather of Soul!
His style, delivery, and all-out raw feeling have never been matched, nor ever will be. He set the bar for soul/funk!
James Brown was the God
There is no higher compliment for Shaffer as a musician than this. The best of the best. James Brown wouldn't play with Ed Sullivan's band in 1966, but brings the house down with Shaffer's band.
As a musician i know how long it takes, to get a James Brown song together with your band and i´m happy to see these pros really struggling like everybody who´s not locked in.
Love the Dijon shout out ! Saw him live MUST SEE the band feeding off each other and his performance I was in the presence of greatness!!!
Id kill to see em
Yeah, I’ve never heard of him, but I’m gonna check it out after this video, based on just what I heard here. I was glad to see Mac Miller’s Good News get a shoutout as well. It’s a great song, though it feels sadly prophetic too.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 yea bro listen to the whole album gives big the band and prince like influence! I haven’t listen to Mac in a min boutta blast good news to honor him 🍻
One purpose of the soul and funk of James Brown was like a partner outreach program for musicians who knew their community and advanced universal virtues in music similar to comedy and these people who are acting to improve access to grateful students from venerable teachers within the discipline of entertaining with music. I remember the 60s with Magnificent 7 in Louisville where the musicians needed to know their dancing parts together with the lead man driving the band. Thank you kindly for your words praising James Brown, James Brown, James Brown. House of Blues is to many his molding of dancers, singers, musicians who dance and play which is an extreme gift to behold. Visiting the show online captures the "beauty of it" when appreciating the internet.
I had the pleasure and honour of interviewing Mr. Brown in 1982, when he came to our city. Spent about 45 minutes chatting with him on the sofa in his hotel suite. I asked him if there was anyone he hadn't worked with yet that he would like to work with. His reply...and I am not shitting you, I have it on tape... *Barbara Streisand* . I was, of course, more than a little taken aback. "Why her?", I asked him. Because, he said, he thought he could teach her a few things about "soul". Not one for modesty, that fella. I asked him if he would consider going into preaching, as Al Green had done by that point. He replied that he was already preaching in his music. As I was leaving, he introduced me to the guy who introduced him and put the cape on him. I joked to the guy that "He better not fire you, because I don't know where you'll get another job like that", gesturing to Brown with my thumb. The guy laughed, but Mr. Brown did not take kindly to being referred to in the third person.
But, the very definition of groove. Second greatest performance on Letterman? George Clinton.
I'm sure Mr. Brown was also offended by your stereotypical question about preaching, and I'm sure his emcee was offended by your comment about his job---which suggested that he could do nothing else. I advise you to do more reading about American history and race relations and the underlying white racism that has infected the nation for far too long.
@@speechrighterNo shit. God is the biggest infection to the African community
As a twelve year old, this was my introduction to James Brown, saw this that night watching Letterman. Groove inducing it was.
Ain’t no funk like the James brown funk. We do a lot of James brown dance parties. And we always will.
The legend JB.
He loved it, he wanted it, but most of all he needed it! That to me is where the passion and intensity came from.
Uniquely brilliant.
It's almost like James Brown is the original truest expression of the modern DJ metaphorically and sonically. Each piece in the backing band becomes almost like a fader or a knob or a switch or pad that he wants to initiate at whim with the groove. Way ahead of his time, he is almost like the analog to the modern DJ setup and definition (that definition being one that puts one individual into all the electronics to create the energy for the room and many moving bodies). James Brown accomplished the same kind of performance by strong leadership of other human pieces and a stringent discipline on the beat and his conducting. Add the killer stinger vocals not unlike an airhorn in terms of memorability and ear worminess, all the pieces seem to be there for such a comparison to my ears and eyes, as his dance moves add that final visual component. Amazing stage presence and sonic wizardry, the whole performance package
100%... James Brown invented the style DJ's are still using today. Dropping out beats, repeated "samples", interlocking patterns that fuse together to make a single complex rhythm... etc. all live though! It's too good!
See James Brown doing 'Please Please Please' on the TAMI show. The dude and his band made electric band music legitimate. Opera, blues, etc. all meld into one.
What my pops told me (Jan Akkerman, guitarist) was James just got that timing. The whole band was in sync, gotta love James Brown
Jan Akkerman is a great guitarist.
This is simply best discussion and demonstration by real technically and artistically committed professional who get towering credibility at their first note
Cold sweat is one of my favorite songs. The syncopation giving to that immediate groove just ahhhh so good.
Thanks for the insight. James a master!
I love how the fact that Cold Sweat is "only" "two bars of material" means you all have the time to do a really really deep dive into it, because if anyone deserves a thorough treatment like that it's James Brown
I love to hear real musicians break down a song this way. Once you hear songs taken apart and put back together you hear accompanying parts and various rhythms so much more clearly the next time you hear the song played.
No one funks like the godfather. Hell of an episode dudes!
My favorite artist when I was a kid! I can still remember when I saw him perform in person when i was 5yrs old!!!!
Thank you for doing this type of content. As a musician I was totally loving every second of seeing these pros break down tracks
I love how the guys were all able to just play the parts - and make all our heads immediately start nodding 😁
Very nice video and conversation 👌🏿
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
On the one. James Brown 101. Funk 101.
That was amazing!
I have always loved James Brown. A true American treasure, and you guys just totally gave JB his flowers with this show. No less than Letterman understanding in the moment something special was happening live. What an influence on the world's music stage.
I do think for a reference of the time and any other music artist that should always be mentioned with JB is Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti.
This performance was utterly amazing
Thanks for turning me on to that Letterman performance. That really is spectacular.
I was lucky enough to see the James Brown in 2003 at the Gathering of the Vibes music festival in upstate NY and me and my dad were blown away! We will never forget it. Unreal band and the energy he brought even at that point in his life was simply stunning. Truly the Greatest Showman and Bandleader ever!
Almost 40 minutes and it still didn't seem long enough. Every aspect was so interesting. Thanks guys
Thank you SO much for talking about James Brown! He's such an icon and as usual I learn so much about music from these videos. Keep up the good work!!!
that "get on up" live performance was incredible. I love the raw approach of live performances and improvisational skill, it truly shows the act of musicianship. Its why the best rappers alive are some of the best freestylers alive, its improv/ feel and its something more than music, its a connection to everyone experiencing that moment, like a language beyond speech. When you watch the video you can just feel it.
And this live performance, my friends, is called an eargasm.
Great concept, great comments by great musicians, great insights into grooves, ideas, musicianship, theory... the whole enchilada!
I just hope you guys know how much good you're doing to younger artists like myself. The education is just unimaginably exciting, and I love how open you guys are to anything new or old. So happy I finally get to hear James Brown and understand the greatness! Also really happy Jack mentioned Mac Miller, one of the newest greats! I highly suggest listening to Circles front to back, I think you guys will love The Beatles references etc :D
Wow! There must be 150 music lessons in this! These four contemporary pros analyze, dissect, then reassemble this '80s James Brown performance in its totality in a way that really allows us to appreciate a great musical moment more than we (thought we) had before. A great job, fellas!
Love the new format. Really boils down to the fun, the musicianship, and the information.
Loved the guests. Such calm and wise guys, gotta respect all of them. Great video as always cya next week 🖖
Such a great video. Thanks guys!
To me, what really drives this version is Will Lee bass tone. It's so punchy and comes through even on a 3" TV speaker. Then the whole band has the funk articulation down. The notes are the exact length they need to be. Pure magic!
Good call on the punchiness and the note lengths!
vcs sao muito bom parabens . james brow beatiful!
As transcendent as the first two songs of this epic set were, I think it's the third (unexpected) song--"I Got A Feeling"--that truly shows how completely in sync these musicians were. The reason for this is that this song was never meant to be performed live by this combo. It came about because Paul and the band played a vocal-less version of the song as one of the musical "stingers" leading into and out of commercial. You can hear a brief snippet of that in the existing show clips here on YT. James was apparently so impressed by the band's knowledge of the song--remember that he had already run through "Sex Machine" and "There Was A Time" with them the day before--that he asked if the band could do "I Got A Feeling" to close the show. And this was UNREHEARSED. And they f*cking KILLED IT. It was criminal how NBC was forced to kill the song just as it was steaming towards its climax. I'm hoping that maybe Dave or Paul or someone at NBC has the complete performance somewhere in their archives.
This is a great comment. Thanks for sharing.
I saw James Brown many times… mostly with my elderly ( conservative) mother….dressed in her perfect sweater and pearls she would jump up out of her seat , then on to her seat and yell… hey! Hey ! Hey! And dance and shout through the whole show….He was magic! His band was a driving groove I’ll never forget….and I was one lucky little girl to see it up close in sweaty person…no show has ever been so dynamic…. Even the Stones…. Or Ike and Tina…..or the Beatles. And Jimi…. All fantastic but not that funky groove that makes you jump out of your seat and dance!great times to remember…
It was well known around the music industry that James Brown was named "The Hardest working man is Show Business" and he earned the moniker of "The God Father of Soul".
LONG before he was called “Godfather” ,James Brown’s ORIGINAL nickname was “MISTER DYNAMITE !!”
Prince. Prince absolutely nails James Brown's moves and squeals, and improved on them.
I'm only 10 minutes in and already learned so much from this group. Thanks for putting this together!
The irresistible grins they all get jamming at 4:20 is what makes music great.
I love Sean’s comment at 34:06 - there was some kinda joyful magic happening that was bigger than the sun of all the parts put together. Letterman saw it, the crew saw it, amd the director of the show saw it… and they let james do his thing 🙌🏻
Mm
Cold Sweat, first funk song ever, the birth, King Records, Cincinnati, Ohio. THE BEST!
What makes it genius it's black! And it's funky& it's James Brown!! Copycats can take a back seat! James Brown is hard to duplicate!💯👍👍👍
"it's not hard to play things, it's hard not to play things"
So freaking true.
Side note I think a lot of people don't realize that John Bonham covered this music before Zep and idolized these kinds of groovy ass drummers. You hear that flavor in his groove.
These are really insightful and fun comments and realizations shared for our enjoyment and education. Thanks, pro’s for putting this out here. We are in the golden age of music education and collaboration.
There are recordings of various versions of this jam. It's amazing how this version set the pathway way funk music to come.
Something so critical to the groove of James' band(s) was each member having great internal time. With every member having that solid internal clock, the tempo James set didn't really matter since they all just went with his tempo -- set it and forget it 😊. That's true in general. When you get a group of musicians together who have excellent time, it's much easier to lock as a unit and not have everyone lean on the drummer (or whomever).
James Brown was on Howard Stern show regularly. Fun!
Did some great live songs on show.
Always a blast!
I knew I loved you guys. If I had had sons I would hope them to be just like y'all. I am blown away by the similarities of our musical influences. Here it comes nothing but the truth. First time I heard James Brown was Ed Sullivan I instantly recognized our similarities. We react dance to every note and drum beat. I might have been seven and was a ballet student studying dance. Mr Gretsch thank you for also showing Gretsch instruments. Mr. Gretsch would send new releases to my brothers and I when my father Mr Gentsch (also Pa. Dutch) was in New York. So we heard the new and progressive in the early 60s in Brownsville Texas. Heard Paul Shaffer on TV also long before Letterman. I must go on to the highlight of my late 20s or early 30s. James Brown came to see me!
I don't know crap about music theory. That said, I appreciate the hell out of this deep dive into James Brown. This is top tier content.
Brilliant episode, We need a Khruangbin episode 🙌🏿
I remember the Letterman performance when it aired. As soon as JB started, I just felt something unique was happening. The best part is when Letterman knew he lost the show and had the smarts to just stay out of the way and let it happen.
It was magic, and everyone knew it.
You guys should see his performance live in Rome 1971.
JB reached perfection (more than once).
i so appreciate the voiceover of guests. So much better than announcing them during the live
Its not "ensemble" playing. It is James Brown playing alone using all the musicians as extensions of himself. Dude was completely in charge 100%.
You better believe that! Mr. James Brown wa 1,000,000,000 etc.% in " CHARGE COMPLETELY"!!!
NO R&B BAND LIKE THE JAMES BROWN (JB's) Band!!
6 grade education. Could not read music BUT "CREATE"MUSIC!
ONLY GOD CREATE!!!
FATHER GOD "LIVES in Mr. James Brown!!
Godfather of the music industry. What he says"WENT"!!!!
For those of you that doesn't know this. Mr. Brown gave the Rapper's their I 'st chances to record!
Mr, Brown said: "Wait a Minute", these kids have something to say!
Let's listen. But the Rapper's so-called music had gotten out of hand (not music, negativity and destructive "trouble")!!
Mr. Brown realized that and was going band(put an end to Rap Music, But the God Father died on Xmas Day).
He was going to make the "Announcement" in New York City,New Years Eve night.After the dropping of the Ball. Along with Dick Clark!
He did not live to do that!
Dick Clark cried!!
His Death is very suspicious!!!
Also Mr. Brown gave the United States of America. Their 1st."FOOD STAMPS"!!!
YES, THAT IS THE TRUTH!
PAID FOR BY MR.
JAMES BROWN!!!
1969-1971
THESE THINGS and so MUCH MORE
Say It "LOUD"!!!! "WHAT"???
MR.JAMES BROWN!
NEVER DID WANT THE TITLE "KING"!!
He said that he DOESN'T WANT TO BE KING OF NOTHING!
THEIR IS ONLY "1" KING! SAID MR. BROWN. FATHER GOD ALMIGHTY!
I HEARD HIM AND SAW HIM SAYING THAT.
HE SAID, YOU CAN GIVE THAT TITLE TO ELVIS PRESLEY or Somebody.
But, I DON'T WANT IT!
"SOUL BROTHER NO.1 OK.
GODFATHER O.K.
I WISH THIS GREAT BROTHER HAD LIVED AT LEAST TO JAN.2!
WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE. ESPECIALLY OF THE BLACK YOUTHS!!!!
THANK YOU MY LOVING DEAR BROTHER, LOVE and Miss YOU SO MUCH!!!
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT HAPPY or Satisfy the way this so-called music have turned out and the DAMAGE 'S it have created and cost.
The minds and behavior of most of the Black YOUTHS!
What a Shame!
Marvin Gaye saw it!!!
well, I'm back. thanx for sending me back in time, I just watched it again. I do remember being in my little apt.,smoking a little reefer, saying to myself, "he's no kid anymore. how does he keep up the pace?" I was 20 something, thinking he was old. he performed 'til NBC closed the doors (but we all know it was taped around 7 PM ).
YESSS the Dijon mention!!!
As an analytical geek-scientist (PhD Physiology & Biophysics), I found this dissection/analysis to be f*cking awesome. Thank you!!!
This is really great insight! A lot of fun!
Awesome stuff. That Letterman performance really is something incredible. I was surprised there was no mention in the Cold Sweat breakdown that the horn line is Miles Davis' 'So What' warped by funk syncopation. Just putting those two tracks side-by-side creates a decent illustration of what funk is.
I never realized that, but I love it.
Definitely a callout to the horn’s two-note answer to the “So What” bass line - but it isn’t “So What”, harmonically.
I agree ...the best performence in America..james brown
James Brown was like a big tent funk evangelist....bringing the gospel.
“I gotcha now…” That story of JB being the conductor with his feet and everything else. One of his songs you hear that “I gotcha now..”. If a horn stab was suppose to happen when JB kicks to the side or whatever. If the players missed their stab it was $50 per slip. Miss the stab, “I gotcha now.” $50. I’m sure you guys know all that. Just what I heard. Good stuff. Thanks 🤙
I've just discovered this video and channel and I love it! James Brown is my favorite Artist and he's the reason I'm A Drummer! " Cold Sweat" was the first song I heard from James Brown and I've been A Fan ever since! Thanks guys!😎
Sean Hurley came ready to PLAY! This was really, really good.
If you listen to a lot of interviews of musiscians that played with JB, they tell you, that he was conducting with his movements and dancing. All the section changes, the stop whre he tells the audience to party and even that out of time stop at the end, he was dancing these rhythms with his body. Steve Jordan said, that he and the whole band grew up on JB`s music and they had known all the songs for years and they also knew how he moved and that he was conducting this way.
They might have rehearsed the last stop during the soundcheck but they knew how and when to change sections and when to play hits and stops, just by looking at and listening to him.
I do remember watching this when I was 12. I was always a James fan.
I had a 12" black and white tv in my room, I would sneak late night tv, after bedtime.
that performance is musicianship heaven
I LOVE this channel. It’s so informative. Thank you all for being you.
Love this episode. I especially like the round badge Gretsch drums !!!
big like from ISRAEL !!
I love this series. Great stuff guys. And always have some of the best musician in the world in the room
Sooooo many good performances on Letterman and SNL in the 80s and 90s. I always tuned in for Will Lee and GE Smith
i can't stop smiling listening watching this. tysfm
27:30 - The answer is "yes", it was calculated. I've read/seen more interviews with James and his former band members than I can remember, and the one theme that was crystal clear was that James wanted the band to be _prepared_ for anything/everything, and he absolutely planned things like when the band would talk. And he likely gave the band a heads-up about the possibility of that break in the beginning.
James was known as the ultimate showman. Part of that was knowing how to connect with a crowd; the other part of that was _ensuring_ that the band would not mess up his intention of connecting with the crowd.
True. Prince studied him carefully and had a similar approach to rehearsing and leading his bands.
A few things I haven't heard mentioned, Letterman's band dream gig was to be backing James Brown, they were in heaven, they were also still fresh as they were just getting going as a late night show, James was also in the era where he was getting a bit old on the scene, finally Dave liked to feature the band at different times He enjoyed and respected them.
I love that these people are talking in the ways of my thoughts that I never get to say.
Great breakdown of how this music grooves so much , it's the same thing that Motown was based on , less is more and everyone being in unity !!!
GREAT JAMES BROWN HISTORY IS WHEN HE WAS LIVE IN ZAIRE 1974, THE PAYBACK, AT THE ALI / FORMAN FIGHT, CONCERT.
I read somewhere Paul Shaffer has James' Hammond Organ in his NYC apartment! Letterman band guest performances are some of the best vids on YT!
One of the most famous hits of the king of rock 'n' roll in an unrivaled gorgeous, phenomenal performance by Diana Ankudinova ( 18 y.o.)
Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley / DARK VERSION cover)
Please react to Diana Ankudinova !
Meet the singer with the most unique voice (dramatic contralto with polyphonic overtones), reactors call her the goosebump queen. "Together with her tessitura, it identifies her potential voice type as dramatic contralto, the deepest, darkest, and most powerful contralto voice." (Wikipedia about Diana).
UA-camrs from all over the world are very fond of making reactions to Diana and now Diana has more than 12 thousand such reactions.
Best choice from Diana's channel:
Can’t Help Falling in Love
3.8 million views
127k likes
Also - It's a Man's Man's Man's World
ua-cam.com/video/pb6o5IKKmIs/v-deo.html
Also - It's a Man's Man's Man's World ( cover of a James Brown song )
Nice reaction 👌
It'll be interesting to know your reaction to the best female contralto in the world 🌎 Diana Ankudinova !
Pleaaaase 🙏
Sure you'll enjoy listening to our treasure 💖
Just come across this video . So glad I did , great players. Great tune. I love to pick these tunes apart