The Story Behind James Brown's Legendary Fatback Groove (Dennis Chambers)

When he was just 13 years old, Dennis Chambers was invited to play drums with the legendary James Brown.
He wasn’t allowed to go on tour unless he brought a tutor with him, and unfortunately it wasn’t possible at the time.
Dennis Chambers went on to have an incredible career anyway, cutting his teeth with Parliament/Funkadelic, John Scofield Band, Carlos Santana and many others.
But Chambers will always remember the James Brown opportunity and continued to enjoy his music.
The first thing he learned to play was called a ‘fatback’, a beat whose name developed from a specific-sounding groove Brown wanted to hear.
You can find the fatback in many James Brown tracks, including “I Got The Feelin'”. What makes it different from the even more legendary ‘funky drummer’ beat? Chambers demos both in this short but sweet video about two groundbreaking grooves from the late 60s/early 70s.
Want more Dennis Chambers videos and stories? Check out this free full lesson from the last time he visited the Drumeo studio: www.drumeo.com/beat/dennis-ch...
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►Chapters:
00:00 - The Origins Of The Fatback
00:45 - The Opportunity To Tour With James Brown
02:13 - Breaking Down The Fatback
03:42 - "I Got The Feelin'" Performance
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►Free Lessons: drumeo.com/free-lessons
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#drumbeat #jamesbrown #drumeo

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Check out Dennis Chambers' full course on "Funk Drumming Essentials" inside Drumeo. Click here to get your first week free: www.drumeo.com/trial

[@DrummerMarcusParker]

I’m so glad to hear my dad being mentioned. Too often his contributions are ignored but my Dad loved Dennis and I pray his legacy lives on forever. Thank you Dad for everything. Rest in Power Melvin E Parker 🙌🏽❤️🙌🏽❤️

[@DrumeoOfficial]

❤️❤️

[@tonyparker3905]

Your father was a great musician . I grew up in Detroit . My family came up from Memphis . I listened to a lot of James Brown . Peace and Blessings !

[@alexissixela6914]

WHAT A LEGENDARY GROOVE !

[@Matt_McGlone]

Your uncle is a legend too! Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction) wrote an entire song about his cat who he named after Maceo Parker.

[@Imjustsaying1966]

Riiiiiight……..

[@jwpind]

The amount of times I've said "good gawwwwd" watching a 5 minute video.... I could watch Chambers live in a pocket 24/7 🔥🔥🔥

[@DrumeoOfficial]

🔥🔥

[@Jhoekstra]

Amen!!!

[@ItCantRainAllTheTime_90]

Pass the peas!

[@toddamtmann3528]

Definitely! He's phenomenal!!! My uncle and I hung out with him for a few hours, when Dennis was using Carl Flipiack's studio in Baltimore (My home). My uncle traded him one of his guitars and my old snare that Dennis liked, for a handful of symbols! Some old Zildjian K series, and in there he gave me the Istanbul handmade Turkish ride, the holy grail of symbols!!!

[@toddamtmann3528]

@@ItCantRainAllTheTime_90 is "More Peas" on that album?

[@my31and37]

I saw Dennis and Victor Wooten play together in New Orleans a few years ago..I was maybe 10ft from his kit..what a show..

[@richardhall6762]

Dang!!!

[@jbognap]

You would think they'd cancel each other out.

[@dangayle]

I saw them on that tour. It was ok, but the show I saw was all bass solo, barely let Dennis loose at all.

[@thetruthchannel349]

Victor Wooten. Thats a name I havent heard in forever.

[@joint2joint2k]

Dennis Chambers is an absolute legend and one of the very best to ever do it.

[@socialhostage8534]

He does a one footed kick that sounds like a dubble and he also does stuff on his snare with one hand that sounds like he does it with two! Crazy!

[@catalystdrums123]

Thats a fairly common thing for drummers to do. Dennis Chambers is impressive on so many other levels.

[@Arjay82]

The "heel toe" is common, but he is exceptionally clean with it.

[@MK-1010]

And that hi-hat just cooks!

[@10GTE]

​@@paddor *Double

[@bossHogOG]

@@catalystdrums123 aCtuAlleeeee

[@palepools]

I produce and couldn’t hold down a beat on a kit to save my life but I will always watch a video breaking down the rhythm of James Brown because it really is the most important thing to happen to music, possibly ever.

[@8triagrammer]

Every time I've seen this dude live, he always steals the show, regardless of who he's playing with.

[@thetruthchannel349]

Usually, gets drummers fired. Just ask Dave Weckl.

[@RiccardoPearlman]

Thankful and pretty much ecstatic to see a healthy Dennis Chambers killing it out there. So glad to see you in this place, Dennis- this was definitely some sunshine for my Friday. Cheers, Drumeo!

[@fafsa89]

Cheers Dennis!

[@jeffreyfoster4260]

Yup!

[@AdemVessell]

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing James Brown live in 1996. As a young person I was changed forever. Everyone was dancing. The place was huge. He was magnificent the band was phenomenal. Not a single second of tired playing. It was full force funk in full effect the entire show.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Wow, what an experience that must have been.

[@FixNewsPlease]

So energetic for Brown's style of dance. Dennis adds even more flair.

[@RVDL]

Dennis Chambers himself is such a legend, awesome to hear from him about James Brown.

[@flamecolumn]

My son and I are both drummers and saw Dennis with Victor Wooten. Great performance by all. Later we were laughing about how Dennis kept tossing out these intense grooves and dense, mind blowing fills….all while seemingly not moving a muscle. Heck, if you looked only at his face, you’d have thought he was asleep. But driving that band like a freight train.

[@richardhall6762]

Art Blakey gave me the same impression. Uncanny.

[@mountainhobbit1971]

LOVE 'groove' type drumming, it is what I am naturally drawn to as a drummer myself and Mr. Chambers is definitely one of the best. Those hi-hats are so CRISP! Thank you.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Glad you dig it, Sean!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

'groove type drumming' - uh isn't that the ONLY type of drumming? 😎 everything else is just keeping time bro. 😅

[@mountainhobbit1971]

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 that certainly is one way to look at it! cool, you answered your own question to me. (meaning 'keeping time' is a type of drumming also) ;-)

[@Clash_CT_Rocker69]

There is nothing better when you play on drum kit & cymbals with kind of sounds you like most and left arm most of the time while playing, should be in "cooking and simmering" mode, playing with all type of ghost notes on superb tuned and sounded snare drum, while leg on kick drum pedal keep playing some straight "pumping" beats, like a heart connected on pacemaker, and then switch on syncopated beats (switch off "pacemaker") when some beats can surprise even you as a result playing with different variation on rhythm which you have started. And such "surprises" are sure sign that you just step into higher and more joyful level of the playing drums. Now, you have played with drums - and if you can remove grin from your face - that is also sign of groovie type of playing.. Cheers my dear mates, wherever are you now. Too bad, Oliver Taylor Hawkins is not with us anymore..

[@richardhall6762]

I’ve been looking for a pair of high hat cymbals that sound like that for years and haven’t been able to find them!

[@DiscreetHobo]

Recently saw Mr Chambers in concert with Victor Wooten, Dean Brown and Bob Franceschini. And it absolutely blew me away I want to relive that night.

[@boom_shak]

I can watch Mr. Chambers for hours….pure pleasure!

[@michaelnorris2522]

I had the extreme good luck to see and hear Dennis dozens of times in small clubs in Baltimore in the 1980s, playing jazz and fusion. Not just a great drummer, but a friendly, down-to-earth guy.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

So cool!

[@davidcurtis4478]

Wow! Love it Dennis! I was on a plane with James Brown one month before he passed away. I was flying from London to ATL Nov 2006. I stood right next to him as someone was putting their bag in overhead. I turned sideways and he was sitting there. I was standing right over James Brown. We locked eyes and I whispered to him "James Brown." He looked right at me and in a quiet yet high-pitched voice said "Hello." It was an awesome moment for me. He was wearing a full purple suit with his hair slicked back. Apparently he had just been in London doing concerts with Joss Stone. One month later he passed. It was a great experience for me. Dennis I use your drumsticks and have done for many years! Keep groovin' the passion! 🤘🥁🤘DC

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Wow!

[@davidcurtis4478]

@@DrumeoOfficial Hey Drumeo! Ya'll do awesome work for the drumming community! Keep groovin' the passion! Yes it was a great experience meeting the legend James Brown. It was cool how he was wearing a full purple suit. I wanted to say "huuhhh!, Hit meaa! PS James I play drums!" 😂😂👍🥁👍

[@subatomic10]

Did you know James Brown wanted Dennis to be his drummer at age 13 ? Mrs Chambers wouldn't allow him because James Brown wouldn't pay for his on the road schooling

[@williamparker3328]

What a story. You had the chance to meet James Brown.

[@davidcurtis4478]

@@subatomic10 Yes amazing! Dennis has always been a huge inspiration to me for many years when my drum tutor back in the day showed me In the Pocket video. Not long after I went to a Zildjian day and saw Vinnie, Tony Williams, Will Calhoun together. It was incredible. Keep groovin' the passion! DC

[@ellavaderknows]

This style of drumming is SO influential on todays drummers. You wouldn't have todays drumming, without these drummers blazing the trail.

[@JK-js2td]

Dennis is DA MAN....hes top 5 of all time drummers for me....such a badd a$$ mf!!!!!

[@morbidmanmusic]

Like saying you wouldn't have cars without covered wagons and horses. some stuff is just the future coming.

[@alexbedwell5227]

I could swear Dennis re-interprets the 1 when he hits the b-section. The snare plays on the & of 2 and & of 4, but Dennis moves the whole feel so that the snare becomes a backbeat - and grooves with that feel - then resolves it with the fill. It moves the beat for me every time I hear it, especially as the horn stabs that match the snare hits are louder than the guitar riff which is actually the time-keeper. If I was dancing to this at a gig I'd probably fall over!

[@MrCabimero]

Over 25 years ago I lived in Glen Burnie Maryland and the music store I went to was also where Mr. Chambers would come from time to time. He was down to earth and it was really cool to hear him just sit on a kit and riff. Not showing off, just enjoying himself. You would never know who he was if you didn't know it was him. Thanks Mr. Chambers.

[@slidethedoss239]

Catching Dennis around Baltimore was always awesome. Watching people who didn't know who he was looking at each other like " who's this drummer???" Haha

[@Mydrumcoach]

Chuck Levins!

[@MoXyiD]

@@Mydrumcoach my favorite music store in the area!

[@beatbishop_official]

Intense groove! What a drums sound! James Brown kind a funky. Such a great energy! 🕺🎶

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Cheers!

[@maxadocious]

WOW! oh my god... this man is a genius, i hope i can see him in concert someday. the touch and precision in this playing has blown me away!

[@christopherg9806]

Watching him play is such an education. I didn't find his explanations very illuminating, but just watching his ghosting and bass drum technique was hugely inspiring.

[@thetruthchannel349]

Youll never get anything out of an explanation. Have to watch and listen with your ears.

[@SlavicSon]

When I was a little 10 year old white kid in Bumfruck, CT. Neighbors would see me dancing to James Brown and they thought I was nuts. But I was in heaven. Because of cool cats like Dennis Chambers.

[@HOTBOXXXstevioHIP]

Dennis Chambers is the most kind, talented, and down to earth people on this planet. I had an opportunity to hang out with him in 2011 in Las Vegas on the Santana tour. That "Prince" aura that everyone speaks of............thats what I got from this technician of beat.

[@atquinn1975]

Dennis' drumming always brings a smile to my face!

[@jasperjenkins7729]

To say Dennis is Monster is an Understatement

[@Keepmelevel]

I play bass, AND DAMN! I LOVE A GREAT DRUMMER!!!! LOVE IT!! You hooked me Dennis! ✌🏽😎

[@Joshstix95]

It's great to see Dennis healthy again 💯

[@jasonmartin7137]

As a metal head, I'm not sure why this video popped up in my recommended at 6am on a Monday morning, but I'm sure as hell glad it did! Wooooooow! I feeeeeeeel good!

[@ppernett1]

I love that kit! I am gonna learn the fatback. Dennis you’re awesome!

[@deanpapadopoulos3314]

I agree…that kit is right. It looks comfortable.

[@fernandoyosuarumtily8115]

The GOAT🐐🐐

[@sergiozdrums]

Amazing! Groove! Dennis is the man! I love the story behind this performance. it's really interesting to hear this legends talk

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Glad you like it, Sergio!

[@sonyamastick]

Dennis is of course one of the very best but he is so smooth, making it look effortless. The guys ability breaks my brain at times LOL Really great post!

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Thanks, Sonya!

[@xrybgfyuknnderhn9567]

Of course he is a problem drummer

[@ssokol91]

Just seen Dennis play with Mike Stern the other week in Baltimore. Phenomenal!

[@tmaddrummer]

No others can express so clearly such speed and dexterity all around the kit. Dennis is truly in a class all his own. Thanks and Blessings, and pleased to see you are feeling and doing so much better again.

[@JesseP.Watson]

One of my favorites. Highly intuitive once locked in with plenty to jam around - stripping it back to almost nothing to begin and then building it up to the full package makes it sound incredible.

[@supadisseur4713]

Good to see him back in shape

[@writetovagelis1975]

I am so glad Dennis is looking healthy again . Still kicking ass!!

[@bcancun123]

He looks great

[@jfsnjax]

To this day, John Scofield’s Loud Jazz album is one of my favorites. Terrific drumming by Dennis and keyboard solos by George Duke!

[@michaelkepes6125]

I saw George Duke with,at the time one of my favorite drummers Billy Cobham in the Duke Cobham band in the mid 70's just a little after seeing Return to Forever with Lenny White another favorite seems drummers were pop in out everywhere

[@Pladderkasse]

Yeah, Loud Jazz turned me on to Dennis' drumming. Paired with Gary Grainger's bass playing, it just grooved like nothing else at the time. One of the finest rhythm sections of all time.

[@DrumeoOfficial]

You're gonna love the video dropping this Friday :)

[@JeffHochberg]

Dennis! So glad to see you’re doing well! Better than well! I could watch you play for days straight. My wish is that you get the Free Spirits back together (with Joey DeFrancesco and John McLaughlin). Oh man! That’s some of your greatest work!

[@willschut4917]

Just that right foot alone…… Speedwise right up there with Bonzo…. Beyond impressive!!!

[@stevenlornie1261]

Bonzo couldn't play this. The guy was great but he was waaay too rigid.

[@willschut4917]

@@stevenlornie1261 Absolutely right. But both groovekings in their own field…

[@ChontosDrumLessons]

"If I did it slower"...proceeds to still play wicked fast. Hahaha. :) LOVE IT! Fantastic lesson and video. Dennis is the man!!

[@Cjzdrums]

This man is legendary

[@romainbertrand253]

Big Wow for mister Chambers. Insane groove.

[@ryanburchett8455]

Dennis Chambers is legendary. More please!

[@maestrovonhuge9397]

Dang, James Brown, he is gone but his music, man that music, will be here for us to enjoy.

[@DavisSchulz]

legend

[@DrumeoOfficial]

❤️❤️

[@rogerwelsh2335]

Absolutely perfect. Dennis is the best groove player ever. Maybe the best overall drummer out there. If I was starting a band which had to play songs in all genres. I think Dennis is best equipped to it the best. He has all the chops, the feel and the understanding of musical history. He also is a cerebral drummer too. His playing is well thought out and orchestrated

[@loilt5091]

Chambers is a MONSTER‼️ Seen him seperately with, John McLaughlin, John Scofield & Santana...

[@loilt5091]

@@jeremyroper7273 👍I was watching Victor mentor a young bass prodigy the other day...saw him in '95, at Seattle's Bumbershoot Arts Fest, with Bela Fleck.

[@dillydean]

I never realized how tight that beat was. Always felt it was special. But wow is it special

[@EVEROSFP1]

His technique and musicality is something else! I have seen him live with John McLaughlin and when he soloed i thought he was going to destroy the drumset with his energy and power while his playing was outworldly..... like changing constantly time signatures while drinking a Coke!

[@t-man5196]

I think you mean otherworldly

[@EVEROSFP1]

@@t-man5196 His skills seemed to me out of this world.. Outworldly!

[@frankmeenzen787]

I have seen him with the Mike Stern Bob Berg Band in Krefeld Germany. At the end of his long solo he went faster and louder, more complex, more cross sticking and so on until nothing goes anymore and he made a move like he was exploding away from the set with a last crash! You have seen that live and you could not believe it!

[@Uptown59]

I've seen him with Mike Stern whereI net him and Mike, John Scofield and Parliament Funkadelic.

[@bunnylovenuts8680]

Oh THANK you so much for posting this!

[@dqsmooth34]

Brought a legit smile to my face watching this man play

[@sideaccount6198]

The funk this man is puttin down behind that drum set as he just casually telling these stories...isht is amazing

[@tdrum21]

Great stories & playing from a true master

[@Bearded_Mountain_Biker]

That was incredible! Wow. Thanks for sharing this

[@rikeverglade6429]

Mr. Chambers. You are amazing!

[@gsxerwhite]

Thanks Dennis. You’re one of the best!

[@rpadavick]

Dear LORD. "If I slow it down" but still throw crazy fast bass flourishes into this already insane pocket.

[@kylarstern7441]

Congrats John! have a great week everyone.

[@Yabroproductions33]

Been admiring Chambers drum skills since ‘95. Thanks for the vid!

[@HardlineSoul]

I could listen to Dennis Chambers all day!!!

[@jacobyjackson3530]

So good to see the King…Mr.Chambers and looking healthy again!

[@wtorules4743]

Such amazing groove and feel in everything he plays. Outstanding player.

[@garysmith3173]

Just beautiful. A masterclass in funk drumming. Thank you sir.

[@paulr.3220]

Wow! I have been a James Brown fan since the late 60"s and always felt that awesome funk beat. This fellow is amazing.

[@richardwashington9936]

Awesome, just saw Dennis in Philly area performing, awesome show and thanks for the pictures

[@MrDfansler]

THAT is what I call playin drums!🥰

[@pascaldeshayes5459]

Absolute brilliance! Both solid as a rock and fluid as water.

[@KRxN11]

An Artist. Thank You for the Music!

[@natebeatsdrums9397]

This is awesome! Love getting some clarity on these grooves

[@ChuloDavidcito]

Love it! I consider myself lucky to have attended a drum clinic featuring Dennis. The highlight was when he just said, "I'm gonna play something in 7". He blew all of our minds with genius material for a good 15 minutes. Unbelievable!

[@DrumeoOfficial]

So cool!

[@VicLabs]

For those familiar with Cowboy Bebop, What Planet Is This? by the Seatbelts completely lifts this groove.

[@paulmonkcom]

Love the groove and the discreet mics. DC is a man of distinction. Kwality production, Cheeeeerz 🤘🏽 8~)

[@williamperri3437]

I met Dennis last week and saw him perform for the first time since the modern Drummer festival in the early 90s. He was playing with Adam Deitch who has a ton of Dennis DNA in him and who happens to be one of my favorite drummers of all time and definitely my favorite drummer of my generation. Let me tell ya, Adam did not crumble or disappoint plan alongside George Porter on bass and Dennis Chambers on Drums! I must also add that Dennis was as humble and as nice as anybody I’ve ever met in my life. I’m talking zero ego. There’s been a few times where he has chose to critique the modern Drummer world and Holly feels about the direction it’s going in kind of like an elder statesman. It wasn’t about ego it was just his idea of what groove is and how he feels about the competitiveness that’s going on in today’s gospel chop obsessed drumming. I think it would be a marvelous idea if you guys got Dennis back and he broke down 10 or 20 of his favorite funk and R&B grooves to build drumming for the youngsters of today !

[@RogerBiwandu]

DC, right on !!!

[@gilliantracy7991]

OMG the funk! Absolutely fabulous!

[@yakobdrums]

I’ve been waiting to see this!!!!!

[@RoRockerB]

Geezus! That groove is bad ass!! Just makes you want to dance!

[@ChrisP872]

I love the sound! It's cool how he does a lot of his playing with his eyes closed too. Now I want to listen to some James Brown!

[@everaldodesantanacarvalho9760]

Dennis Chambers is fantastic Dennis Chambers é simplismente inspiracional.

[@dmomcilovic9185]

The beat that started hip hop sampling, jungle, and drum and bass

[@mahler2112]

Mr. Chambers stopped by the music store I was working at and played for a few minutes for us. Everyone was in front of him, I stood behind him he kind of winked at me and then took off. Man what a drummer!

[@camerriam]

What a legend, great to see Mr. Chambers healthy and kicking ass again!

[@maxshyt]

So happy to see Dennis coming back in good shape, and still has it!

[@somaymelejit]

Clyde, Jabo, Bernard, Dennis... 🙌🙌

[@Twobarpsi]

I could listen to this all day!

[@spotteddogmemphis]

Double time!!! That funky drummer beat is lit.

[@fdl3692]

Superb!! Wow. Makes me smile! 😄

[@jeffreyfoster4260]

Just seen him last week in Philadelphia, so Good to see him doing much Better

[@kellybogues]

Sick drum beats!! Love'em!!

[@teaspoon103084]

dennis looks so good. so happy hes well, sounding good as ever

[@mkeysou812]

Drumeo once again making the world a better place with these videos

[@intomnia3313]

What a technician! Complex, beautiful rhythms.

[@flamingtarantula]

That double bass pedal sounding single bass pedal technique is wizardry

[@MrBluoct]

One of the best of the best to launch from B town Absolute legend

[@williewill0313]

I barely have the hand-eye coordination needed to watch this. The man has chops!

[@BeyondCashed]

its this type of comping and breaks that got me into drumming, Love Chambers!!