Tuesday, December 26th, 2006

RIP JB

“He delivered the drum front and center. Vincent noted that James Brown brought out a more prominent rhythmic foundation for the music and introduced the important concept of ‘Hitting on the One’. James Brown focused his entire band including the complex horn, rhythm guitar and keyboard arrangements of his band mate Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Nat Jones to ‘deliver on the one’. James Brown punctuated his efforts by using his voice with his vintage grunts, groans and screams as a binding force which also drew everything ‘on the one’. It seems so simple and commonplace today, but back then it was groundbreaking.”

posted by Jeff Chang @ 12:09 am | 3 Comments

3 Responses to “RIP JB”

ronnie brown says:

December 26, 2006 at 12:50 pm

i thought i was dreaming when i heard the news on the radio while i was falling asleep…James Brown was, and will continue to be the musical soundtrack to my life for the rest of my days…When my father finally makes his transition to eternity, i will recite the lyrics to “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” in his honor.

may the Godfather rest in peace…
Eric Mar says:

December 31, 2006 at 3:27 pm

From Amiri Baraka – 1969

In the Funk World
If Elvis Presley/ is
King
Who is James Brown,
God?
Benita Brown says:

January 29, 2007 at 12:55 pm

I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of Mr. James Brown.

Although he was making music long before I was old enough to appreciate it, I am grateful for his influence. I didn’t know that in 1984 Afrika Bambaataa teamed up with James Brown to record the anthemic single “Unity.” He was then and still is very influential; his work is sampled quite frequently in hip hop.

I look forward to learning more about him & his influence on African Americans, hip hop and the world.

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