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 Rolloâ€), Mark Boston (“Rockette Mortonâ€), Greg Davidson (“Ella Guruâ€), and John Thomas (keyboardist on “Bat Chain Pullerâ€), 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).
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