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Cody Dickinson
(August 2005 Issue)
Defining An Artist "It's a misconception
that blues music is simple and easy to play,"
says Cody Dickinson of
The North Mississippi All-Stars. "When you start dealing with the swing
element and the feel, it gets
tough. It's much harder than straight-8th
rock." Having spent his early years watching studio legends Jim Keltner
and
Roger Hawkins record with his father, famed producer Jim Dickinson,
it's not surprising that Cody understands the
importance of feel.
But the drummer's not only rooted in the blues tradition. He's
reinventing it, bringing
many contemporary influences into the mix. "I
get a lot of ideas from rap beats," says Cody. "I've also been
listening to
DJ Screw and Lil' Flip. I love that stuff. It's very
rhythmic." On the All-Stars' recent live CD, Hill Country
Revue, Cody points out the track "Be So Glad," stating, "I'm doing 32nd notes on the hi-hat, like a drum machine."
Cody has also developed a unique approach to double bass. "I was into
Slipknot for double bass," he explains. "But
I came up with a fresh
idea after hearing the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band's bass drummer,
Otha Andre Evans. He
gets these insane patterns going, similar to
second-line drumming from New Orleans." Other members of the Rising
Stars
include snare drummers Aubrey Turner and Rodney Evans.
Listen to the All-Stars' "Shimmy She Wobble" to hear
Cody apply these
ideas to double bass. "It starts with a marching beat from the Rising
Stars," the drummer explains. "With
my feet I'm emulating the sound of
two hands on a marching bass drum." To emphasize this unique approach,
Cody
uses different-sized bass drums. "Jordison from Slipknot will tell
you, they spend hours trying to match the drums. I want
them to be different."
Michael Dawson
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