Hello! All you musicians out there, I have what I believe is a challenge 4 U!!!

I am a classically trained pianist and pretty good at music theory, but for the life of me I can't figure out what the hell is going on in the first half of the song EAST.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about: in music theory class at University of New Orleans, the professor chellenged us to find a song with cross rhythms in it. For example, I brought in "Open Sesame" by Kool & the Gang, which has the drums playing a 3/4 rhythm and the horns playing a 4/4 rhythm--at the same time of course.

Anyway, COULD SOMEONE PLEASE FIGURE OUT WHAT JOHN BLACKWELL IS DOING IN EAST!!!??????

I have almost given up

PS. I challenge anyone who believes that Prince has worked with a better drummer! (maybe Shiela E., but that's it)

i'm not a musicologist but to me the drum pattern Blackwell is playing is very jazz inspired as it misses out the bass kicks and snare hits that we would expect from a 'funk' 4/4 drum pattern and using his skills he can miss parts out and fill in where there shouldn't be a 'hit', but he can keep it all on point with his abilities (something about it seems very circular/rotational yet organic). not sure what the time signature is though, I would suggest it's diguised 4/4. ?

PS. Bernard Purdie and Clyde Stubblefield do similar things to my ear.

Hi,

Its a pretty cool beat isn't it. I've just had a quick listen (I'm also a drummer/percussionist) and I think its in 4/4 time. Try and focus o the bass drum pattern as what John is playing onthe hi-hat and snare with occasional top tom, can make it sound quite complex.

I'll try and get a better listen tomorrow, when I finish work.

Thanks guys, I've tried to zero in on the bass drum, but it still confuses me...

About it being in some kind of 4/4: it sounds like some of it is in 4/4, but it never stays that way. just when it seems like my tapping foot starts to lock onto a rhythm, it sounds like the # of beats per measure changes.

only thing more annoying than this is the way the NO Saints are playing this year...