Here’s the paradox of John “Drumbo” French: his influence has been sizeable and significant, while remaining largely invisible. As the drummer and music director for revered iconoclasts Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, French made central contributions to a handful of LPs – notably 1969s mind-altering masterpiece “Trout Mask Replica,” on which French acquired the antic stage-name “Drumbo” – that vastly expanded the parameters of contemporary music. Yet while the group earned droves of ultra-impassioned admirers, its music was too unusual and idiosyncratic to spawn many direct descendants.
The same is true of Drumbo himself. While his hugely energetic, exceptionally disciplined playing told us new things about the drums and their possibilities, it was too personal, and context-specific, to be taken up by many other players. But what Drumbo did – memorably, gorgeously – was to provide a model for musical invention. After exposure to Drumbo’s ravishing reinvention of his instrument, a generation of drummers responsive to innovation felt liberated to go their own ways. Drumbo sired not so much a school of playing as a possibility of freedom.
For his new CD, “City of Refuge,” Drumbo set out to “inject new life” into the stylings and traditions of The Magic Band while creating a disc that can easily “stand on its own.” Working with Magic Band alumni Bill Harkelroad (AKA “Zoot Horn Rollo”), Mark Boston (“Rockette Morton”), Greg Davidson (“Ella Guru”), and John Thomas (keyboardist on “Bat Chain Puller”), the record shows where Drumbo has been and indicates where he’s going. It’s a craggy, bluesy, melody-laced mixture of interlocking rhythms and straight-ahead emotion – and something that no one interested in richly challenging electric music will want to miss.
"City Of Refuge" is out now around your world.
Click the album artwork to hear clips, get more information on "City Of Refuge" and order the album (UK and Europe).
i know uncle john your simply the best in your music ihave grown up to it and though the years it just keeps getting better like fine wineit gets better with time love always your nephew stephen aka stevil od docstevil
Sky Sunlight Saxon of the SEEDS etc. passed over to be with YaHoWha 6/25/2009 at 9:10am. Sabrina Saxon and Joshua Aquarian were at his side. He passed peacefully and with no pain. Donate to help with cremation and other expenses due to this unexpected crisis.
Hi Drumbo. listen to my drumsolo improvisation to music by Xenakis (Drums Variations on Xenakis) and tell me what you think. available on my myspace. regards. sergio
David Pastorius and Local 518 availabe NOW from Leaping Cat Records and can be ordered at most good record shops. This is a superb album, David Pastorius is a fantastic Musician and a world class bassist with fresh style of his own. This album is a must for any music lover, the level of musicianship is second to none. The music is new, exciting and unique.
Check it out at our website or on our myspace player, for the real experience buy the CD and play it on your stereo.
The album has a sense of dynamics that make it stand out on it's own.
This is an excerpt from the feature length film "Die Son! Die!" by Miles Perhower in association with elementary productions, starring the glorious Miss Halliwell. It is a concept concert album.. a film and an album.. it is a concert and a drama.. it is real life and fabrication. It is about the stalker and the stalked. It is the realisation of one man's madness. The music is blistering, the visuals engaging: it is the most watchable piece of art today. This is more than music and more than film. It is the post-modern Purple Rain. The Stourbridge Chronicle has already described it as "the most important milestone in cinematic history"; The New York Times' art correspondent said "If it was a hat, I would wear it"; Tony Wilson's ghost is reported to have whispered, "I wish I had thought of that". Entrepreneur and pop guru Alan Neilson wrote: "Isn't it great that Wispas are back." DIE SON! DIE! will be on general release at the end of August 2009. Best wishes from Miss H
I also enjoyed your interview on in protest of boredom. Glad you're making music. Cool interview on the Beefheart revue DVD also. You know, the one we're you're talking on a phone in a tree. Who's idea was that? Anyhow, best regards Drumbo.
Hi John! I really enjoyed listening to your interview on the 'In Protest Of Boredom' myspace page. I was particularly fascinated by your experiences during the making of Trout Mask Replica - no wonder you have written a book about it! What an incredible thing to go through, all in the name of art! I love the end result of course but i do find the conditions under which the record was made slightly disturbing, to say the least! All the best and i can't wait to read your book! Sam.
..
