A great friend once told me that every musical genre has a soul.  I always wondered if Soul music has anything but.  My musical tastes were formed early, by my brother’s purchase of a 3 album set of Motown classics.  Stevie, Tops, Temptations, Diana Ross, all the greats of a generation ago.  I don’t know how or where he got it, but (I haven’t properly thanked him) it changed me forever.

I have since longed to recreate the feeling I heard on those early, influential songs, if not in actual style then at least in spirit.  My musical tastes took a turn toward heavy (speed) metal, through pop, and eventually to Jazz, which, in high school, was like a beacon calling me back to that eternal soul of music.  This is where I have stayed for much of the remainer of my life up to this poing, but as a drummer, I have always maintained a tie to Funk and Soul music.

These are the comfort foods of my playing, although I have been too elitist at times to admit it.  I once fancied myself a jazz player, and I do enjoy it, but there is nothing like an EWF tune to make me smile.  As I have gotten older, I realize there are many diversions off the path…diversions into a particular style, or a preoccupation with gear, or whatever.  My mission is pretty simple from here on out: play music you love with people you love.  That’s it.

I love the exchange between Anton Ego and Linguine in “Ratatioulle” where Linguine says, “you’re thin for someone who likes food.”  Ego replies, “I don’t LIKE food. I LOVE it. If I don’t love it, I don’t SWALLOW.”  That’s exactly what I’m after…without the soul-crushing cynicism, of course.

Some other day I’ll talk about how few kids are really learning how to play instruments, and how few musical role models there are, and even then, how few people are learning to really tap into the soul of music for its own sake first.

For now, I’ll start with my journey through the music that I love.  I’ll spend my time talking about my heroes, and my experience playing through those well-worn paths laid down over the last few decades.  I’ll encourage you to do the same.  If you’re like me, it just might change your life.

-Adam