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I always find it interesting to hear great players talk about their influences. One of my alltime favourite drummers is the late Jeff Porcaro. Jeff was a session player of note but to the average punter he was best remembered as being the drummer for the band Toto. In the following video clip Jeff talks about the influence that two drummers had on him in coming up with a groove for the song Rosanna. It’s a half time shuffle feel that just rocks. His main influences in this groove are the amazing Bernard Purdie, himself a renowned session player, and the great John Bonham of Led Zepplin fame.

Here is Bernard Purdie explaining the “Purdie Shuffle” in his own unique way

Here is Jeffs explanation of the beat

and here is Toto demonstrating the finished product.

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