It's not all about the singer

IT'S HOT IN THERE: Arahi Haggar (left), Maynard Mason and Brent Holt. PICTURE / MARCO PERRY

It's all about guitarists, soloists and singers a lot of the time in a band situation, whether it be rock, pop, swing, jazz or whatever, and I guess that is what pops up at you most often. I'm sure you've read the stories about musicians sneaking into pubs to watch, or sitting on the edge of the stage learning and enamoured by guitar virtuosity or other instrumental expertise relaying sonic messages from another place, or the all-out stage command of a seasoned vocalist. What is difficult for an audience is to be able to place yourself in close proximity to a rhythm section, the driving force and cohesion in any musical story. Sure it's almost always about the front person these days but what really floors me is the power of a rhythm section. Standing on a stage with a super drummer and bass player or top rhythm guitarist and piano player is all that any musician of any creed could ask from a musical God whoever he or she may be. To be in that situation beyond your diva rock and roll dreams is better than creamed paua.
It gets hot in that circle and talk about pressurised dispensers and do not spray near incandescents ... drummers and bass players live in an audio visual world of their own design, able to ignite, explore and expand any front person's capabilities ... or ruin it. I'm guessing, but reckon a top notch rhythm section's musical attitude and delivery could easily transfer into life skills, making possibilities of control and compatibility suddenly seem purposeful and correct. Living in your own personal bubble is great but when you finally get to share that space with someone else is the moment you come up with the rhythm section, a place where all sorts of extravaganza takes place, cohesion and meaning to life flow suddenly becoming syncopated and dynamic. Just as a true partnership flourishes with similarly moving brain and body movement, so does music with The Rhythm Section.
Bruce Springsteen once said that these guys way in the back, behind all that stuff, giving the music its spine and drive, its cohesion and contour and a huge chunk of its personality, often without getting the credit they deserve.
Catching some of our local rhythm sections should be on the must do list for all this winter, warming up those sniffles, colds and maybe some physio intervention. A good place to start would be at The Musicians Club where you'll find all kinds of rhythm and be able to get close to the stage for full power! Hopefully the incredible Swinganui are still at The Big Orange on occasion where a total fondue of jazz tempo and tightness is on offer. The Pussy Whippers reformation looks complete ... hope to catch them soon. Damn Raucous Brass bringing infectious groove on a brass plate. Clazzmatic Boogie Orchestra always offers up a full rhythmic menu as entree, main and dessert, as will the upcoming Festival of Cultures with a variety of ethnic musicians and dancers serving the song, creating a language of rhythm and eventually reaching maximum rhythmic power with Sam Manzano and the Afrobeatband.