Masters Of Groove - Live at Iridium, NYC, 3.30.12
by Michael Sherer
Posted: Apr 2012
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Bernard Purdie - photo by Michael Sherer
Masters Of Groove are literally just that. These three guys, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on drums, Grant Green, Jr. on guitar and Reuben Wilson on Hammond B3 organ, (also handling bass with it) kick serious ass. They serve up greasy and supremely funky, grooving, extended original jams, as well as interpretations of others’ memorable songs. These included “Stella By Starlight” by Victor Young, “It’s Your Thing” by The Isley Brothers, “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers, and “Mr. Magic” by Grover Washington, Jr., to name a few. They add their own thing to them, “funkitizing” the sound and locking together as players in the most proverbial way. They conjure the mid to latter ‘60’s soul/funk/jazz vibe completely, and remind anyone who knows their stuff musically that this was the golden era for the confluence of those impactful genres.
Some background on these very happening guys is merited. Purdie is the king of grooving, “in the pocket,” driving drummers. Period. In the ‘60’s, Bernard developed his own brand of shuffle, and is the single most identified drummer for this aspect of drumming. At 73, with sixty five years of experience, Bernard still has the intensity and accuracy that he’s so known for. He makes it seem easy, but it most certainly isn’t. The number of drummers that he’s influenced is great, but a couple notables are John Bonham and Jeff Porcaro, who were big fans of Purdie’s shuffle specifically. They in turn influenced so many others. (And both tragically died in their ‘30’s from alcohol and cocaine abuse, respectively.)
Wilson, at 77, is another venerable veteran. An early proponent of the acid and soul jazz movements that came to be in the mid ‘60’s, this soul burner has a hot touch and swings hard. 2012 marks fifty years of Wilson being a professional musician. He started on piano playing rather conventional jazz. In the mid ‘60’s, he switched to the Hammond B3 after befriending organist Richard “Groove” Holmes in Los Angeles, where they were both residing. Holmes greatly influenced Wilson and brought about the major change of instruments and musical directions. The number of respected musicians that Wilson has played with, especially during his most productive period of the ‘60’s, is extensive. One of them is guitarist Grant Green, Sr.
Speaking of which, Green Jr., 57, has followed his father in skillfully and tastefully playing guitar. Green Jr., unlike Sr., Jr. is a relatively rare lefty. He sings admirably while playing, which is more difficult than it appears. He was literally was born into the world of music, and has seen, heard and learned a lot through his father. This includes (hopefully) not making the same mistakes of living hard, as did Sr., who passed in ‘79, in his car, from a heart attack.
I venture to guess that Purdie and Wilson are like father figures to Green Jr., and have his back. Green Sr. would be proud to hear and see that his son is dishing out such a smoking, stanky and nasty musical stew that legions of fans and musicians alike can eat up, but very few can imitate.