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About this Episode
Drummers like Clyde Stubblefield, Zigaboo Modeliste, and Bernard Purdie defined the sound of the bands they played with not because of their flashy chops, but because they knew how to lock down a groove. On this episode, Kirk goes deep into one groove apiece by each of those drummers - Stubblefield on James Brown's "Cold Sweat," Modeliste on The Meters' "Cissy Strut," and Purdie on Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady" - with help from special guest drummer Russ Kleiner.
FEATURED/DISCUSSED
- Cold Sweat by James Brown and the Famous Flames, 1967
- "Cissy Strut" by The Meters from The Meters, 1969
- "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin from Young, Gifted, and Black, 1972
- "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" by James Brown, 1965
- "So What" by Miles Davis from Kind of Blue, 1959
- The Treme Brass Band at the Red Beans and Rice parade, 2013
- “Shoo Fly Marches On,” by Dr. John, 1973
- Babylon Sisters by Steely Dan from Gaucho, 1980
SPECIAL GUEST: Russ Kleiner
Russ is one of Kirk's oldest friends, a drummer and percussionist who currently lives, teaches, and performs in Connecticut. He has frequently offered drum insights to Kirk for various episodes of Strong Songs, and he's been overdue for an appearance on the show.
Additional thanks to Nick D'Errico for his help recording and overseeing the drum session for this episode - find Nick online at https://www.nddrums.com.
OUTRO SOLOIST: Charles McNeal
Charles McNeal is a killin' Oakland-based sax player who plays all over the bay area. He's also a master jazz transcriber, and has chronicled tons of great solos. You can find him playing out in a variety of bands and settings; the best way to keep up with his music is to subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram @charlesonsax2.
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SEPTEMBER 2022 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS
Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Ronjan – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – RR – Elliot Rosen – Ashley Hoag – Mark and Michelle – Donald Mackie – Melissa Osborne – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joshua Jarvis – Niko – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Simon Cammell – Guinevere Boostrom – Narelle Horn – Bill Rosinger – Erin – Aidan Coughlan – Jeanneret Manning Family Four – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – AccessViolation – Ryan Torvik – Glenn – Jim Chokey – Andre Bremer – Mark Schechter – Dave Florey
SEPTEMBER 2022 HALF-NOTE PATRONS
John Bauman – Dax and Dane Huddleston – Martín Salías – Tim Howes – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Giant Predatory Mollusk – Casey Faubion – Luigi Boccia – Rob Albright – E. Margaret Warton – Daniel Mosier – Catherine Clause – Owain Hunt – Renee Downing – Ken Is Wearing a Hat – Tony – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Chad Hivner – Travis Pollard – Jeff Ulm – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Adam Ray – Anupama Raghavan – Demetri Detsaridis – Carrie Schneider – Alenka Grealish – Anne Gerry – Richard Sneddon – David Judson – Julian Roleff – Janice Berry – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Abigail Duffield – Rapha David – Wendy Gilchrist – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Dennis M. Edwards – Jeffrey Ferris – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jungben – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Greg Burgess – Ailie Fraser – Von – Paul McGreal – Karen Arnold – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Phino DeLeon – Schloss Edward J., MD – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Stephen Rawlings – Ben Machta – Victoria Yu – Kevin Rivers – Brad Clark – Michael J. Cunningham – Mark Boggs – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Sarah – David Joske – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Richard Cambier – Madeleine Mader – Timothy Dougherty – Jason Pratt – Stewart Oak – Abbie Berg – Sam Norton – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Olivia Bishop – John Gisselquist – Elaine Martin – Linda Duffy – Kouroth – Sharon Tree – Belinda McGrath-Steer – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Pete Simm – Susan Plein – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Will Dwyer – Alethea Lee – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Jeffy Thanadros – David Friedman – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Kenneth Tiong – Jo Sutherland – Michael Casner – Derek Bender – Jen Small – Lowell Meyer – Etele Illes – Stephen Tsoneff – Lorenz Schwarz – Wen – Jack Sjogren – Geoff Golden – Robyn Fraser – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – JC – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Tijs Soete – Mark Perry – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jake Roberts – Jonathan Daniels – Steven Maron – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Matt Gaskell – Jules Bailey – Andrew Fair – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Mueller – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Jon O’Keefe – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Kevin Pennyfeather – Emily Williams
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💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺
July 11, 2026 | Portland, OR
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Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
