David Garibaldi (b-1946)
When I was managing Discount Drum World in the 70s, we had a Rogers - David Garibaldi set in stock. It was a nice drum set. I knew he was the drummer with Tower of Power. I was playing in a group called The Riddler Band. We covered a few of those tunes. I hadn’t discovered the concept of (Linear vs. Non Linear) and just played the tunes…my way. When I discovered his book “Future Sounds” it was obvious, I didn’t have a clue what was really happening inside that style.
I became aware of The Meters and Zigaboo Modeliste when their tune Cissy Strut was released in 1969. I knew and heard something different, but it was a one shot thing. Nobody was verbally talking in a language of that linear drumming style. Somewhere in my studies, I discovered the genius books by Gary Chaffee.
In 2023+ I’m in the process to get in the shed with David Garibaldi’s –
“The Code of Funk” (book and audio tracks) I’ve dabbled around with various tracks when it was released as an application through Peter Erskine.
It’s a brilliant drumming tool to play those tunes and style. Of coarse, nobody can replicate those songs like David Garibaldi. I’m not naive.
He makes it look and sound easy.
Linear Drumming = is a drum kit playing style which no drum, cymbal or other component plays simultaneously.
The hippest tunes in music are those Tower of Power tracks. Down to the Night Club, Oakland Stroke and What is Hip? All co-written by David Garibaldi.
I’ve seen and heard David Garibaldi several times at music store clinic events. (Orlando) and (Ace Music Miami with the Talking Drums project) I also follow the Stick People streams with Michael Shrieve, Lenny White, Mike Clark, Greg Errico and David Garibaldi.