Last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the central coast California town of San Luis Obispo (SLO), and at the weekly farmer’s market, a band was playing a song that I *knew*, but could not name. After searching my mp3’s, I found it – it’s called “The Chicken.”
Originally written by Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis as part of the James Brown Band, it was made well known by bass phenom Jaco Pastorius on the 1981 album by Weather Report entitled The Birthday Concert.
It’s been covered by many artists, but by far, my favorite version is by Brian Bromberg (play the youtube window up top) – and here’s a smattering of others (you need to have iTunes store to listen to these samples):
- James Brown, the original (medium tempo)
- Jaco Pastorius live (medium tempo)
- Brieli Lagrene & Jaco (slow)
- Keith Jacobson (medium tempo)
- Rick Latham and the Groove Doctors (medium tempo)
- Dave Weckl live (fast!)
- MarchFourth Marching Band (hot!)
- Mississippi John Hurt (slow)