Galt MacDermot

Galt MacDermot: Coffee Cold
From Shapes of Rhythm [Kilmarnock, 196?]

Galt MacDermot: Space
From Woman is Sweeter [Kilmarnock, 1969]

Like legend David Axelrod, Galt MacDermot is considered one of the greatest music composers of the century. Born in Montreal, MacDermot was originally a pianist, but later began composing music for films and broadway plays, Hair and Two Gentleman of Verona probably being his most well-known works. Employing a unique blend of jazz, rock, funk, folk, and classical styles MacDermot’s music managed to appeal to a variety of ears, and is largely what makes his music still relevant today as hip hop listeners and producers especially have found lasting appeal in MacDermot’s music. I’ve selected two tracks from two albums he cut in the late 60’s, both of which have been sampled prominently. “Coffee Cold” was actually recorded in ‘66, which is strange since it predates the rhythmic changes of James Brown’s Cold Sweat yet still brings the funk in an eerily foreshadowing fashion, albeit in a much cleaner and controlled way. Prince Paul and Automator looped this to death on the first Handsom Boy LP, but what a sweet loop it is with the always exceptional Bernard Purdie on drums.

Woman is Sweeter was a soundrack to Martine Barrat’s film, this time with jazz vet Idris Muhammad on drums. It’s a little dirtier and rawer than Shapes of Rhythm while still maintaining his signature rhythms. It’s pretty obvious, but “Space” was sampled for Busta Rhymes’ breakout hit “Woo-Ha.” Both albums are highly recommended, but those looking for more should check out his work for Cotton Comes to Harlem and The Nucleus, as well as a couple of nice compilations, one on Stones Throw and the other on MacDermot’s Kilmarnock label I believe.