A Brief History of Time (Volume 2)
“Bernard is very sharp,” once said Galt MacDermot. “He plays a lot of interesting rhythms.” Indeed. And many admirers have sought out Purdie’s now-reissued first solo album for his interesting rhythms and, let’s face it, his open drum breaks. But it’s not always about the open breaks; as a matter of fact, a drummer’s key role is to keep time for other players (to play with other players). “What a person plays means nothing if the time’s no good,” Wilbur Bascomb has said, “and Purdie is the king of time. The naval observatory can get their time from Purdie.” Witness Purdie’s time and rhythm.
Refer to Wax Poetics Issue #2 for album cover
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Ceasar Frazier 75 (Westbound, 1975) “Funk It Down”
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Nothing fancy here, just Purdie laying the 4/4 for the opening of the Frazier-penned funk track, while John Faddis offers trumpet bursts, building tension
Bernard Purdie Purdie Good! (Prestige, 1971) “Cold Sweat”
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A favorite JB cover, Purdie and friends tackle it with perfect Prestige poise.
Michael Bolotin Michael Bolotin (RCA, 1975) “Take Me As I Am”
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Before he changed his name to Bolton, he released this blue-eyed soul album to some critical praise. While bassist Wilbur Bascomb teams up with Purdie (and Andy Newmark) for some solid rhythms, the album is very forgettable due to some sappiness and of course Bolton’s easily distiguishable voice.
Aretha Franklin With Everything I Feel in Me (Atlantic, 1974) “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
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Aretha’s take on the Bacharach/David tune. For this disco version, Purdie’s monster drumming keeps the song moving almost faster than it wants to
- Charlie Byrd The Great Byrd (Columbia, circa 1970) “I Don’t Have to Take It”
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While Byrd’s early 1970s albums were usually very simple, light pop-jazz fare, he was respected as a serious guitarist. You can often find great players on his albums, such as this one with Herbie Hancock and Chuck Rainey. On this song, Paul Griffin leads off on the organ while Purdie creates a chunky backdrop.
Billy Butler Plays Via Galactica (Kilmarnock, 1973) “New Jerusalem”
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Guitarist Butler plays music by Galt MacDermot on Galt’s label with Galt on piano. Purdie and Wilbur Bascomb provide the rhythm section.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity Vibrations (Polydor, 1976) “Higher”
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“Baby You Give Me a Feeling”
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While beat-heads are most familiar with the non-Purdie-backed track “Searching,” Purdie provided beats to these two oft-overlooked dance floor jams.
Freddie Hubbard A Soul Experiment (Atlantic, 1969) “Clap Your Hands”
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While Grady Tate provides the big open beat on this rare album, Purdie breakbeats his way through this song on Hubbard’s funky pop-jazz outing.
Larry Coryell Fairyland (Mega, 1971) “Souls Dirge”
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“Stones”
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Another raw breakbeat album from Coryell, this one is a trio live at Montreux with Chuck Rainey on bass and Purdie on drums.
Joe Cocker Luxury You Can Afford (Asylum, 1978) “What You Did to Me Last Night”
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Produced by Allen Toussaint with players and guests Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Stephen Gadd, David Newman, Hank Crawford, Richard Tee, Donny Hathaway, Billy Preston, Dr. John, and of course Bernard Purdie
The Insect Trust Hoboken Saturday Night (Atco, 1970) “Ducks”
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Rare-ish Atco LP by obscure Thomas Pynchon-quoting avant-garde folk/jazz/jam band (reedman Bob Palmer went on to be famous music critic/writer). Guests include drummer Elvin Jones, as well as Purdie.
