Spaghetti Breaks: Musical Cooking

• By Billy Martin
• Published July, 2009

Many cultures describe the creative musical process as “cooking.” I think it is a great analogy for what we do. So, for fun, and just to break up the academic monotony a little, here are a few of my recipes for flavorful funk. Drumbeats should be enjoyed like food. Chop and sauté an onion. Add a crushed clove of garlic with some fresh basil. Use only Italian-grown tomatoes! What ingredients you use and in what amount, not to mention cooking time, all make a difference. Repeat Exs. 1, 2, and 3 in any order that feels good. And if you can interpret the recipe into your own style of playing, so much the better. (illy B Eats Vols. 1—3 available on iTunes or on vinyl at amuletrecords.com).