Oh man this is so great. Abdullah Ibrahim (then still trading as Dollar Brand) leading a South African band back in 1976. They are all great players to a man, but listen in particular to the work of drummer Gilbert Matthews at the absolute core of this tune, in much the same way as Jaki Liebezeit often was in Can, Clyde Stubblefield was with James Brown, Benny Benjamin was at Motown and Roger Hawkins was at Muscle Shoals. It's Gilbert's relentless rhythm, intertwined with Ibrahim's rumbling bottom end keyboard, that sets Black Lightning swinging so heroically.
Love it, love it, love it! Have you heard this version - no Vincent Price lightning, no horns, just piano…
ReplyDeletehttps://open.spotify.com/track/1NiNgtaUcIZtazrhr8OjHj?si=b82-bT00S9GMwmXVQhiYQA&dl_branch=1
Glad you enjoyed it John. I don't have Spotify, but will investigate further - thanks for the tip!
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