Jazz, funk and Southern soul come together on a new CD by New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore. Moore's driving rhythms are attributed to some of the city's most influential musicians.
Stanton Moore's funk roots run deep. First and foremost, he cites the legendary New Orleans funk band The Meters as one of his prime influences. Of course, growing up in a city known for its rich musical heritage, there were unlimited possibilities at every corner, especially for an aspiring drummer.
"When I used to go to Mardi Gras parades with my parents, the first thing you'd hear coming down the street were the drums," Stanton says. "I think that funk music just gives you that same feel, that rhythmic feel that makes you go, 'Oh, yeah man, here it comes!'"
Stanton Moore's latest album Groove Alchemy, featuring Robert Walter playing the Hammond B-3 organ and Will Bernard on guitar, is the culmination of a multimedia project that traces the roots of funk drumming. There's also a DVD and instructional book of the same name.
Stanton's reputation as one of New Orleans' busiest musicians began with his band Galactic in the early-1990s. Over the course of a decade, the funk sextet recorded six albums and performed more than 200 shows a year, many of those overseas. Still active today, Galactic has incorporated hip-hop, jazz fusion, blues and world music into its repertoire.
In addition to his impressive solo output with his trio, Galactic, and other collaborations, Stanton dedicates his spare time to teaching the fine art of New Orleans drumming in seminars, workshops and clinics; writes a regular column for drumming magazines; launched his own drum company; and serves on the board of directors for Roots of Music, a music education and academic mentoring program.
