Timekeepers: The Art of Drumming with JM Van Eaton, Ziggy Modeliste, and Shannon Powell
This week on American Routes, we’re keeping the beat with drummers and rhythm makers across the genres: everyone from Sun Records’ Rockabilly drummer JM Van Eaton, to jazz percussionist Ben Riley, who had to keep up with the unconventional rhythms of Thelonious Monk. In between, we listen live in-studio to New Orleans’ King of Treme, Shannon Powell, whose music takes us from the church to the streets and beyond. The funky backbone of The Meters, Joseph “Ziggy” Modeliste tells us what it really means to hit a groove, and we’ll play an encore presentation of our interview with New York City percussionist, Tito Puente, El Rey de los Timbales.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Lil Liza Jane Preservation Hall with Shannon Powell
Shake That Thing, Preservation Hall Recordings
Feet Don't Fail Me Now Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Feet Don't Fail Me Now, Jazz
Doin' the New Low Down Bill Robinson
Stars of the Apollo, Columbia
Get Rhythm Johnny Cash
The Legend of Johnny Cash, Columbia
Hound Dog Elvis Presley
Elvis: The King of Rock n Roll, RCA
Laughin' in Rhythm Slim Galliard
Laughing in Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years, Polygram
Instrumental: Raunchy Bill Justis
Sun Records Collection, Rhino
SEGMENT: JM Van Eaton
Whole Lotta Shakin' Jerry Lee Lewis
The Very Best of Sun Rockabilly, Charly
Down Yonder We Go Ballin' Smiley Lewis
Shame, Shame, Shame, Bear Family Records
Instrumental: Funky Banjo Don Vappie
Banjo a la Creole, Vapielle Records
My Indian Red Baby Dodds Trio feat. Danny Barker
Jazz a la Creole, GHB
It Ain't My Fault Smokey Johnson
It Ain't My Fault, Tuff City
SEGMENT: Shannon Powell
Air Mail Shannon Powell with Jason Marsalis
Powell's Place, Shannon Powell
End Bed: Flying Home Benny Goodman
Giants of Jazz: Immortal Concerts, Sarabandas
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Cissy Strut The Meters
Funkify Your Life Anthology, Rhino
Every Little Thing I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On) Lee Dorsey
The Masters Lee Dorsey, Eagle Records 1997
Right Place Wrong Time Doctor John
Right Place Wrong Time, ATCO
SEGMENT: Zigaboo Modeliste
They All Asked for You The Meters
Funkify Your Life Anthology, Rhino
My Girl Josephine Fats Domino
Greatest Hits Walking to New Orleans, Capital
Instrumental: Descarga Cachao Israel Cachao Lopez
Master Sessions Vol. 1, Crescent Moon/Epic
SEGMENT: Tito Puente
Soul Sauce Cal Tjader
Cal Tjader's Greatest Hits, Fantasy
Straight No Chaser Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings, Blue Note
Instrumental: Unsquare Dance Dave Brubeck
Time Further Out, Columbia/Legacy
SEGMENT: Ben Riley
End Bed: The Bright Mississippi Allen Toussaint
The Bright Mississippi, Nonesuch