The Story Behind James Brown's Legendary Fatback Groove (Dennis Chambers)

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When he was just 13 years old, Dennis Chambers was invited to play drums with the legendary James Brown.
He wasn’t allowed to go on tour unless he brought a tutor with him, and unfortunately it wasn’t possible at the time.
Dennis Chambers went on to have an incredible career anyway, cutting his teeth with Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield Band, Carlos Santana and many others.
But Chambers will always remember the James Brown opportunity and continued to enjoy his music.
The first thing he learned to play was called a ‘fatback’, a beat whose name developed from a specific-sounding groove Brown wanted to hear.
You can find the fatback in many James Brown tracks, including “I Got The Feelin'”. What makes it different from the even more legendary ‘funky drummer’ beat? Chambers demos both in this short but sweet video about two groundbreaking grooves from the late 60s/early 70s.
Want more Dennis Chambers videos and stories? Check out this free full lesson from the last time he visited the Drumeo studio: www.drumeo.com/beat/dennis-ch...
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►Chapters:
00:00 - The Origins Of The Fatback
00:45 - The Opportunity To Tour With James Brown
02:13 - Breaking Down The Fatback
03:42 - "I Got The Feelin'" Performance
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►Learn Drums Here: drumeo.com/
►Free Lessons: drumeo.com/free-lessons
►Our Favorite Music Products: www.drumeo.com/jared-recommends/
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Follow Dennis:
►Website: www.dennischambers.com/
►Instagram: / dennischambersofficial
►Facebook: / dennischambersofficial
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#drumbeat #jamesbrown #drumeo

Опубликовано:

1 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 563

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Check out Dennis Chambers' full course on "Funk Drumming Essentials" inside Drumeo. Click here to get your first week free: www.drumeo.com/trial

@DrummerMarcusParker 2 года назад

I’m so glad to hear my dad being mentioned. Too often his contributions are ignored but my Dad loved Dennis and I pray his legacy lives on forever. Thank you Dad for everything. Rest in Power Melvin E Parker 🙌🏽❤️🙌🏽❤️

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

❤️❤️

@tonyparker3905 2 года назад

Your father was a great musician . I grew up in Detroit . My family came up from Memphis . I listened to a lot of James Brown . Peace and Blessings !

@alexissixela6914 2 года назад

WHAT A LEGENDARY GROOVE !

@AGoodEgg_ 2 года назад

Your uncle is a legend too! Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction) wrote an entire song about his cat who he named after Maceo Parker.

@Imjustsaying1966 2 года назад

Riiiiiight……..

@jwpind 2 года назад

The amount of times I've said "good gawwwwd" watching a 5 minute video.... I could watch Chambers live in a pocket 24/7 🔥🔥🔥

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

🔥🔥

@Jhoekstra 2 года назад

Amen!!!

@ItCantRainAllTheTime_90 2 года назад

Pass the peas!

@toddamtmann3528 2 года назад

Definitely! He's phenomenal!!! My uncle and I hung out with him for a few hours, when Dennis was using Carl Flipiack's studio in Baltimore (My home). My uncle traded him one of his guitars and my old snare that Dennis liked, for a handful of symbols! Some old Zildjian K series, and in there he gave me the Istanbul handmade Turkish ride, the holy grail of symbols!!!

@toddamtmann3528 2 года назад

@@ItCantRainAllTheTime_90 is "More Peas" on that album?

@socialhostage8534 2 года назад

He does a one footed kick that sounds like a dubble and he also does stuff on his snare with one hand that sounds like he does it with two! Crazy!

@catalystdrums123 2 года назад

Thats a fairly common thing for drummers to do. Dennis Chambers is impressive on so many other levels.

@Arjay82 2 года назад

The "heel toe" is common, but he is exceptionally clean with it.

@MK-1010 2 года назад

And that hi-hat just cooks!

@10GTE 2 года назад

@@paddor *Double

@bossHogOG 2 года назад

@@catalystdrums123 aCtuAlleeeee

@my31and37 2 года назад

I saw Dennis and Victor Wooten play together in New Orleans a few years ago..I was maybe 10ft from his kit..what a show..

@richardhall6762 2 года назад

Dang!!!

@jbognap 2 года назад

You would think they'd cancel each other out.

@dangayle 2 года назад

I saw them on that tour. It was ok, but the show I saw was all bass solo, barely let Dennis loose at all.

@thetruthchannel349 2 года назад

Victor Wooten. Thats a name I havent heard in forever.

@davidcurtis4478 2 года назад

Wow! Love it Dennis! I was on a plane with James Brown one month before he passed away. I was flying from London to ATL Nov 2006. I stood right next to him as someone was putting their bag in overhead. I turned sideways and he was sitting there. I was standing right over James Brown. We locked eyes and I whispered to him "James Brown." He looked right at me and in a quiet yet high-pitched voice said "Hello." It was an awesome moment for me. He was wearing a full purple suit with his hair slicked back. Apparently he had just been in London doing concerts with Joss Stone. One month later he passed. It was a great experience for me. Dennis I use your drumsticks and have done for many years! Keep groovin' the passion! 🤘🥁🤘DC

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Wow!

@davidcurtis4478 2 года назад

@@DrumeoOfficial Hey Drumeo! Ya'll do awesome work for the drumming community! Keep groovin' the passion! Yes it was a great experience meeting the legend James Brown. It was cool how he was wearing a full purple suit. I wanted to say "huuhhh!, Hit meaa! PS James I play drums!" 😂😂👍🥁👍

@subatomic10 2 года назад

Did you know James Brown wanted Dennis to be his drummer at age 13 ? Mrs Chambers wouldn't allow him because James Brown wouldn't pay for his on the road schooling

@williamparker3328 2 года назад

What a story. You had the chance to meet James Brown.

@davidcurtis4478 2 года назад

@@subatomic10 Yes amazing! Dennis has always been a huge inspiration to me for many years when my drum tutor back in the day showed me In the Pocket video. Not long after I went to a Zildjian day and saw Vinnie, Tony Williams, Will Calhoun together. It was incredible. Keep groovin' the passion! DC

@8triagrammer 2 года назад

Every time I've seen this dude live, he always steals the show, regardless of who he's playing with.

@thetruthchannel349 2 года назад

Usually, gets drummers fired. Just ask Dave Weckl.

@ellavaderknows 2 года назад

This style of drumming is SO influential on todays drummers. You wouldn't have todays drumming, without these drummers blazing the trail.

@JK-js2td 2 года назад

Dennis is DA MAN....hes top 5 of all time drummers for me....such a badd a$$ mf!!!!!

@morbidmanmusic 2 года назад

Like saying you wouldn't have cars without covered wagons and horses. some stuff is just the future coming.

@joint2joint2k 2 года назад

Dennis Chambers is an absolute legend and one of the very best to ever do it.

@DiscreetHobo 2 года назад

Recently saw Mr Chambers in concert with Victor Wooten, Dean Brown and Bob Franceschini. And it absolutely blew me away I want to relive that night.

@RiccardoPearlman 2 года назад

Thankful and pretty much ecstatic to see a healthy Dennis Chambers killing it out there. So glad to see you in this place, Dennis- this was definitely some sunshine for my Friday. Cheers, Drumeo!

@fafsa89 2 года назад

Cheers Dennis!

@jeffreyfoster4260 2 года назад

Yup!

@mountainhobbit1971 2 года назад

LOVE 'groove' type drumming, it is what I am naturally drawn to as a drummer myself and Mr. Chambers is definitely one of the best. Those hi-hats are so CRISP! Thank you.

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Glad you dig it, Sean!

@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 2 года назад

'groove type drumming' - uh isn't that the ONLY type of drumming? 😎 everything else is just keeping time bro. 😅

@mountainhobbit1971 2 года назад

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 that certainly is one way to look at it! cool, you answered your own question to me. (meaning 'keeping time' is a type of drumming also) ;-)

@Clash_CT_Rocker69 2 года назад

There is nothing better when you play on drum kit & cymbals with kind of sounds you like most and left arm most of the time while playing, should be in "cooking and simmering" mode, playing with all type of ghost notes on superb tuned and sounded snare drum, while leg on kick drum pedal keep playing some straight "pumping" beats, like a heart connected on pacemaker, and then switch on syncopated beats (switch off "pacemaker") when some beats can surprise even you as a result playing with different variation on rhythm which you have started. And such "surprises" are sure sign that you just step into higher and more joyful level of the playing drums. Now, you have played with drums - and if you can remove grin from your face - that is also sign of groovie type of playing.. Cheers my dear mates, wherever are you now. Too bad, Oliver Taylor Hawkins is not with us anymore..

@richardhall6762 2 года назад

I’ve been looking for a pair of high hat cymbals that sound like that for years and haven’t been able to find them!

@MrCabimero 2 года назад

Over 25 years ago I lived in Glen Burnie Maryland and the music store I went to was also where Mr. Chambers would come from time to time. He was down to earth and it was really cool to hear him just sit on a kit and riff. Not showing off, just enjoying himself. You would never know who he was if you didn't know it was him. Thanks Mr. Chambers.

@slidethedoss239 2 года назад

Catching Dennis around Baltimore was always awesome. Watching people who didn't know who he was looking at each other like " who's this drummer???" Haha

@Mydrumcoach 2 года назад

Chuck Levins!

@MoXyiD Год назад

@@Mydrumcoach my favorite music store in the area!

@michaelnorris2522 2 года назад

I had the extreme good luck to see and hear Dennis dozens of times in small clubs in Baltimore in the 1980s, playing jazz and fusion. Not just a great drummer, but a friendly, down-to-earth guy.

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

So cool!

@palepools 2 года назад

I produce and couldn’t hold down a beat on a kit to save my life but I will always watch a video breaking down the rhythm of James Brown because it really is the most important thing to happen to music, possibly ever.

@AdemVessell 2 года назад

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing James Brown live in 1996. As a young person I was changed forever. Everyone was dancing. The place was huge. He was magnificent the band was phenomenal. Not a single second of tired playing. It was full force funk in full effect the entire show.

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Wow, what an experience that must have been.

@flamecolumn 2 года назад

My son and I are both drummers and saw Dennis with Victor Wooten. Great performance by all. Later we were laughing about how Dennis kept tossing out these intense grooves and dense, mind blowing fills….all while seemingly not moving a muscle. Heck, if you looked only at his face, you’d have thought he was asleep. But driving that band like a freight train.

@richardhall6762 2 года назад

Art Blakey gave me the same impression. Uncanny.

@RVDL 2 года назад

Dennis Chambers himself is such a legend, awesome to hear from him about James Brown.

@alexbedwell5227 2 года назад

I could swear Dennis re-interprets the 1 when he hits the b-section. The snare plays on the & of 2 and & of 4, but Dennis moves the whole feel so that the snare becomes a backbeat - and grooves with that feel - then resolves it with the fill. It moves the beat for me every time I hear it, especially as the horn stabs that match the snare hits are louder than the guitar riff which is actually the time-keeper. If I was dancing to this at a gig I'd probably fall over!

@SlavicSon Год назад

When I was a little 10 year old white kid in Bumfruck, CT. Neighbors would see me dancing to James Brown and they thought I was nuts. But I was in heaven. Because of cool cats like Dennis Chambers.

@Keepmelevel 2 года назад

I play bass, AND DAMN! I LOVE A GREAT DRUMMER!!!! LOVE IT!! You hooked me Dennis! ✌🏽😎

@christopherg9806 2 года назад

Watching him play is such an education. I didn't find his explanations very illuminating, but just watching his ghosting and bass drum technique was hugely inspiring.

@thetruthchannel349 2 года назад

Youll never get anything out of an explanation. Have to watch and listen with your ears.

@atquinn1975 2 года назад

Dennis' drumming always brings a smile to my face!

@FixNewsPlease 2 года назад

So energetic for Brown's style of dance. Dennis adds even more flair.

@boom_shak 2 года назад

I can watch Mr. Chambers for hours….pure pleasure!

@Joshstix95 2 года назад

It's great to see Dennis healthy again 💯

@jasonmartin7137 2 года назад

As a metal head, I'm not sure why this video popped up in my recommended at 6am on a Monday morning, but I'm sure as hell glad it did! Wooooooow! I feeeeeeeel good!

@beatbishop_official 2 года назад

Intense groove! What a drums sound! James Brown kind a funky. Such a great energy! 🕺🎶

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Cheers!

@tmaddrummer 2 года назад

No others can express so clearly such speed and dexterity all around the kit. Dennis is truly in a class all his own. Thanks and Blessings, and pleased to see you are feeling and doing so much better again.

@HOTBOXXXstevioHIP 2 года назад

Dennis Chambers is the most kind, talented, and down to earth people on this planet. I had an opportunity to hang out with him in 2011 in Las Vegas on the Santana tour. That "Prince" aura that everyone speaks of............thats what I got from this technician of beat.

@sonyamastick 2 года назад

Dennis is of course one of the very best but he is so smooth, making it look effortless. The guys ability breaks my brain at times LOL Really great post!

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Thanks, Sonya!

@xrybgfyuknnderhn9567 10 месяцев назад

Of course he is a problem drummer

@jasperjenkins7729 2 года назад

To say Dennis is Monster is an Understatement

@maxadocious 2 года назад

WOW! oh my god... this man is a genius, i hope i can see him in concert someday. the touch and precision in this playing has blown me away!

@ssokol91 2 года назад

Just seen Dennis play with Mike Stern the other week in Baltimore. Phenomenal!

@jfsnjax 2 года назад

To this day, John Scofield’s Loud Jazz album is one of my favorites. Terrific drumming by Dennis and keyboard solos by George Duke!

@michaelkepes6125 2 года назад

I saw George Duke with,at the time one of my favorite drummers Billy Cobham in the Duke Cobham band in the mid 70's just a little after seeing Return to Forever with Lenny White another favorite seems drummers were pop in out everywhere

@Pladderkasse 2 года назад

Yeah, Loud Jazz turned me on to Dennis' drumming. Paired with Gary Grainger's bass playing, it just grooved like nothing else at the time. One of the finest rhythm sections of all time.

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

You're gonna love the video dropping this Friday :)

@ppernett1 2 года назад

I love that kit! I am gonna learn the fatback. Dennis you’re awesome!

@deanpapadopoulos3314 2 года назад

I agree…that kit is right. It looks comfortable.

@rogerwelsh2335 2 года назад

Absolutely perfect. Dennis is the best groove player ever. Maybe the best overall drummer out there. If I was starting a band which had to play songs in all genres. I think Dennis is best equipped to it the best. He has all the chops, the feel and the understanding of musical history. He also is a cerebral drummer too. His playing is well thought out and orchestrated

@supadisseur4713 2 года назад

Good to see him back in shape

@willschut4917 2 года назад

Just that right foot alone…… Speedwise right up there with Bonzo…. Beyond impressive!!!

@stevenlornie1261 2 года назад

Bonzo couldn't play this. The guy was great but he was waaay too rigid.

@willschut4917 2 года назад

@@stevenlornie1261 Absolutely right. But both groovekings in their own field…

@JesseP.Watson 2 года назад

One of my favorites. Highly intuitive once locked in with plenty to jam around - stripping it back to almost nothing to begin and then building it up to the full package makes it sound incredible.

@maestrovonhuge9397 2 года назад

Dang, James Brown, he is gone but his music, man that music, will be here for us to enjoy.

@sergiozdrums 2 года назад

Amazing! Groove! Dennis is the man! I love the story behind this performance. it's really interesting to hear this legends talk

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

Glad you like it, Sergio!

@williamperri3437 3 месяца назад

I met Dennis last week and saw him perform for the first time since the modern Drummer festival in the early 90s. He was playing with Adam Deitch who has a ton of Dennis DNA in him and who happens to be one of my favorite drummers of all time and definitely my favorite drummer of my generation. Let me tell ya, Adam did not crumble or disappoint plan alongside George Porter on bass and Dennis Chambers on Drums! I must also add that Dennis was as humble and as nice as anybody I’ve ever met in my life. I’m talking zero ego. There’s been a few times where he has chose to critique the modern Drummer world and Holly feels about the direction it’s going in kind of like an elder statesman. It wasn’t about ego it was just his idea of what groove is and how he feels about the competitiveness that’s going on in today’s gospel chop obsessed drumming. I think it would be a marvelous idea if you guys got Dennis back and he broke down 10 or 20 of his favorite funk and R&B grooves to build drumming for the youngsters of today !

@sideaccount6198 2 года назад

The funk this man is puttin down behind that drum set as he just casually telling these stories...isht is amazing

@JeffHochberg 2 года назад

Dennis! So glad to see you’re doing well! Better than well! I could watch you play for days straight. My wish is that you get the Free Spirits back together (with Joey DeFrancesco and John McLaughlin). Oh man! That’s some of your greatest work!

@EVEROSFP1 2 года назад

His technique and musicality is something else! I have seen him live with John McLaughlin and when he soloed i thought he was going to destroy the drumset with his energy and power while his playing was outworldly..... like changing constantly time signatures while drinking a Coke!

@t-man5196 2 года назад

I think you mean otherworldly

@EVEROSFP1 2 года назад

@@t-man5196 His skills seemed to me out of this world.. Outworldly!

@frankmeenzen787 2 года назад

I have seen him with the Mike Stern Bob Berg Band in Krefeld Germany. At the end of his long solo he went faster and louder, more complex, more cross sticking and so on until nothing goes anymore and he made a move like he was exploding away from the set with a last crash! You have seen that live and you could not believe it!

@Uptown59 2 года назад

I've seen him with Mike Stern whereI net him and Mike, John Scofield and Parliament Funkadelic.

@writetovagelis1975 2 года назад

I am so glad Dennis is looking healthy again . Still kicking ass!!

@bcancun123 2 года назад

He looks great

@jacobyjackson3530 2 года назад

So good to see the King…Mr.Chambers and looking healthy again!

@HardlineSoul 2 года назад

I could listen to Dennis Chambers all day!!!

@ChuloDavidcito 2 года назад

Love it! I consider myself lucky to have attended a drum clinic featuring Dennis. The highlight was when he just said, "I'm gonna play something in 7". He blew all of our minds with genius material for a good 15 minutes. Unbelievable!

@DrumeoOfficial 2 года назад

So cool!

@ryanburchett8455 2 года назад

Dennis Chambers is legendary. More please!

@bunnylovenuts8680 2 года назад

Oh THANK you so much for posting this!

@tdrum21 2 года назад

Great stories & playing from a true master

@Bearded_Mountain_Biker 2 года назад

That was incredible! Wow. Thanks for sharing this

@dqsmooth34 2 года назад

Brought a legit smile to my face watching this man play

@wtorules4743 2 года назад

Such amazing groove and feel in everything he plays. Outstanding player.

@gsxerwhite 2 года назад

Thanks Dennis. You’re one of the best!

@dillydean 2 года назад

I never realized how tight that beat was. Always felt it was special. But wow is it special

@ChontosDrumLessons 2 года назад

"If I did it slower"...proceeds to still play wicked fast. Hahaha. :) LOVE IT! Fantastic lesson and video. Dennis is the man!!

@garysmith3173 2 года назад

Just beautiful. A masterclass in funk drumming. Thank you sir.

@loilt5091 2 года назад

Chambers is a MONSTER‼️ Seen him seperately with, John McLaughlin, John Scofield & Santana...

@loilt5091 2 года назад

@@jeremyroper7273 👍I was watching Victor mentor a young bass prodigy the other day...saw him in '95, at Seattle's Bumbershoot Arts Fest, with Bela Fleck.

@Yabroproductions33 2 года назад

Been admiring Chambers drum skills since ‘95. Thanks for the vid!

@paulr.3220 2 года назад

Wow! I have been a James Brown fan since the late 60"s and always felt that awesome funk beat. This fellow is amazing.

@romainbertrand253 2 года назад

Big Wow for mister Chambers. Insane groove.

@natebeatsdrums9397 2 года назад

This is awesome! Love getting some clarity on these grooves

@richardwashington9936 2 года назад

Awesome, just saw Dennis in Philly area performing, awesome show and thanks for the pictures

@Cjzdrums 2 года назад

This man is legendary

@kylarstern7441 2 года назад

Congrats John! have a great week everyone.

@rikeverglade6429 2 года назад

Mr. Chambers. You are amazing!

@fernandoyosuarumtily8115 2 года назад

The GOAT🐐🐐

@paulmonkcom 2 года назад

Love the groove and the discreet mics. DC is a man of distinction. Kwality production, Cheeeeerz 🤘🏽 8~)

@ChrisP872 2 года назад

I love the sound! It's cool how he does a lot of his playing with his eyes closed too. Now I want to listen to some James Brown!

@everaldodesantanacarvalho9760 2 года назад

Dennis Chambers is fantastic Dennis Chambers é simplismente inspiracional.

@KRxN11 2 года назад

An Artist. Thank You for the Music!

@mahler2112 2 года назад

Mr. Chambers stopped by the music store I was working at and played for a few minutes for us. Everyone was in front of him, I stood behind him he kind of winked at me and then took off. Man what a drummer!

@MrDfansler 2 года назад

THAT is what I call playin drums!🥰

@RoRockerB 2 года назад

Geezus! That groove is bad ass!! Just makes you want to dance!

@maxshyt 2 года назад

So happy to see Dennis coming back in good shape, and still has it!

@yakobdrums 2 года назад

I’ve been waiting to see this!!!!!

@rpadavick 2 года назад

Dear LORD. "If I slow it down" but still throw crazy fast bass flourishes into this already insane pocket.

@jeffreyfoster4260 2 года назад

Just seen him last week in Philadelphia, so Good to see him doing much Better

@pascaldeshayes5459 2 года назад

Absolute brilliance! Both solid as a rock and fluid as water.

@intomnia3313 2 года назад

What a technician! Complex, beautiful rhythms.

@teaspoon103084 2 года назад

dennis looks so good. so happy hes well, sounding good as ever

@BeyondCashed 2 года назад

its this type of comping and breaks that got me into drumming, Love Chambers!!

@hattrickjmr 2 года назад

Holy Crap! So clean! His bass drum work is unreal!

@williewill0313 2 года назад

I barely have the hand-eye coordination needed to watch this. The man has chops!

@gilliantracy7991 2 года назад

OMG the funk! Absolutely fabulous!

@kellybogues 2 года назад

Sick drum beats!! Love'em!!

@camerriam 2 года назад

What a legend, great to see Mr. Chambers healthy and kicking ass again!

@VicLabs 2 года назад

For those familiar with Cowboy Bebop, What Planet Is This? by the Seatbelts completely lifts this groove.

@MrBluoct 2 года назад

One of the best of the best to launch from B town Absolute legend

@Twobarpsi 2 года назад

I could listen to this all day!

@spotteddogmemphis 2 года назад

Double time!!! That funky drummer beat is lit.

@aircavmedic 2 года назад

You picked one of my favorite singers, Godfather of Soul & 1 of my favorite drummers. Outstanding

@dynjarren8355 2 года назад

A dance groove that makes you move! With a rhythmic beat that moves your feet. You know you hear it and you get up outta your seat!

@fdl3692 2 года назад

Superb!! Wow. Makes me smile! 😄

@juniorjr4815 2 года назад

Man, what a beat! One of my favorite JB songs. Very cool to see ya laying it down. 👊😎

@Sanderly1820 2 года назад

Closed eyes right through the song, GOD-MODE

@djsuckss Год назад

Amazing drummer, one of my top 5. I saw him like 15 years ago, and the guy looks still the same :)