Zigaboo Modeliste is one of the
greatest drummers in the history of pop music
~The New Yorker
Modeliste is probably the most brillant
American Funk percussionist of the contemporary era.
~David Marsh, Book of Rock Lists
“Godfather of Groove”
~Downbeat Magazine
All what propelled by what hip-hop
producer Lucas "Cut Chemist" McFadden calls
Modeliste "less is more" drumming. Public
Enemy's Hank Shocklee says "That is what the
formula for funk and hip-hop as we know it."
~San Francisco Chronicle
After Leo Nocentelli's guitar or Art Neville's
organ or even George Porter's bass states the theme,
the soloist on your mind is nonpareil drummer Ziggy
Modeliste. Zigaboo articulated his beats so eccentrically
they're hooky.
~Rolling Stone, 2005
Zig is like the Elvin Jones of New
Orleans Funk. A lot of things that Zig played, you
can't learn it and you can't imitate it. It's based
on the African. There is a strong 6/8 feel to it.
~Downbeat Magazine
The Meters' drummer, Zigaboo Modeliste
plays a rhythm so hectic you worry he won't get back
to the downbeat in time. Given only a few staccato
guitar chords to work with, Amerie sings an energetic,
lighthearted love song, calling out the lyrics as
if she were playing some game.
~New York Times, Critics Notebook March 2005
Washington, D.C. -based producer
Rich Harrison hears the track for the first time in
May of 2004. I love the Meters: New Orleans music
is very close to D.C. Go-Go, very percussive and chant
oriented. And Ziggy, he's crazy
~Blender 2005
They don't call him the king of
the funky drums for nuthin, Joseph "Zigaboo"
Modeliste practically invented funk
~Dirty Linen
Well, there's Ziggy Modeliste from
the Meters. Now he's a genius. Nobody can play what
he plays, the way he plays. He's got a whole 'nother
thing happening
~Wax Poetics, #14 Fall
Not only are the beats snappy and
tight, they're pretty darned tricky to replicate.
what's more, the drums on these records sound perfect-a
bit distant, dry, and tight.
~Modern Drummer
Amerie:1 Thing R&B Jam of the
year: The crazy in love drums sound live but they're
sampled from the Meters' 1970 "Oh Calcutta!,"
looped by D.C. producer Rich Harrison into bongo funk
while Amerie hangs on by her nails. Drummer hero Ziggy
Modeliste proves New Orleans will never, never die.
~The top 10 singles Rolling Stone 2006
Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste,
I’m On the Right Track
From the beginning of this enjoyable record, Joseph
"Zigaboo" Modeliste stakes his claim to
the throne that he was, is and will be the funkiest
drummer on the planet. Zig's contemporary sound is
different from most rhythm and blues these days because
it still has the sound and the unmistakable sound
of real instruments
~www.bestofneworleans.com
....Everything clicks on I'm on
the Right Track captures the band's sound perfectly
and provides a platform for Modeliste's crisp straight-ahead
drum sound on a strong collection of catch, melodically
strong tunes.
~Sonics ***** (5 star) Sterophile
“One of the most influential
drummers EVER!”
~Stickit Magazine
“Created what is considered
to be among the most groundbreaking funk music of
all time!
~ Drum! Magazine