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You didn’t think I was going to do it, did you? A new loop pack, already? I know I haven’t been the most active blogger this month, with the big move and everything, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t working feverishly behind the scenes in preparation for the release of Volume IV.

Like all Gruss Loop packs, Volume IV spans a wide range of tempos and styles. Everything from straight ahead jazz waltzes to crunchy folk beats to mastabatory fusion. It’s the drum equivalent of an all-you-can-eat Vegas buffet (without the salmonella poisoning). My potato salad is fresh.

Did you think I'd redesign the box?

106_Totallys80s – Max Headroom came to me in my dreams and demanded some quality 80’s loops. He said go heavy on the gated-reverb and light on everything else. Be sure to chug some New Coke while you get down with these beats.

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173_Waltz – No Gruss Loop pack would be complete without some jazz loops. Focused around an amazing Bosphorus ride cymbal (I only wish it were mine), these beats explore the possibilities of 3/4.

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212_Train – Choo choo. Here are some train beats. With uptempo brush action, these beats are guaranteed to make the hobos go nuts.

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100_AuxToys – I’ve been staring at that ribbon crasher in the corner of my studio long enough, I finally decided to incorporate it into some dirty dance beats. Along with its friend, the cowbell, it keeps my right hand busy while the left lays down the 2 and 4.

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120_ExtremeFusion – It’s almost like I secretly set up some mics in a Berklee practice studio and captured some kid preparing for his weekly lesson with Kenwood. If beats were like shaving razors, this set would have seven blades.

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140_Granola – So you’re looking for some grooves to jam with in your dorm room on your acoustic guitar, maybe trying to impress the girl down the hall? Look no further, brah. Here are some chilled out grooves to help make you the Jack Johnson of your floor.

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To become a subscriber and gain instant access to all of the 100 loops (AIFF, WAV and REX2) in Volume IV, just click the button below.

Here’s some great footage of one of my favorite trios, John Scofield, Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart, getting things done at the Blue Note in NYC. Check the drum solo starting at 1:18. This is a great example of soloing melodically over a ride ostinato.

Loop #91

I just realized that all of the straight ahead jazz loops that I’ve posted have been in 4/4. Sure, I’ve done some 6/8 Bembe variations, but those were more in the Afro Cuban realm. Today’s loop is an outtake from a full session of 3/4 grooves I just recorded for Volume IV.

If you’re looking for some extra waltz-based inspiration, just take a look at this list of contemporary compositions. I’m going to sleep a lot better tonight knowing that Joe Satriani’s “Always With Me, Always With You” made the cut. A true waltz classic indeed.

Joe Satriani - Shredder & Waltz Enthusiast

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173 BPM

Well, I’m happy to say that the move to the new house is complete. Of course, it took place over the hottest, most humid, weekend of the year, but all in all, it’s been a smooth transition. I just powered up the studio and I’m hard at work on mixing and editing loops for the much talked about, eagerly awaited release of Gruss Loops Vol IV. Look for a sneak peak tonight. In the meantime, I have some hedges to trim and some walls to paint. Rockin’ the suburbs….

Please pardon the lack of loops and posts this week. As you might know, I’m in the process of moving into a new house (and studio) and everything is in a state of disarray. After this weekend, I should be plugged back in and recording some kickass flamadiddles. Until then, enjoy this live performance of “The Rat” by The Walkmen. I’ve always loved the vibe of this track. Spastic, 16th notes done right. Almost makes me want to strip naked on a discount airline and punch a stranger in the face.

After a long, stressful day, some people tend to wind down with a few drinks. Others find solace in working out or smoking crack. And me? Well, I find that nothing helps me kick back and relax like turning on the dry ice machine, inverting a few splash cymbals and playing some overindulgent fusion. There’s really nothing like the sound of 32nd notes on the hi hats to take the edge off.

Loop #90

Today’s loop is a two bar snippet of the hour long fusion session that was unfortunately caught on tape (and you can bet your permed mullet that the rest of the tracks will be included in Volume IV). It’s actually one of the more restrained moments of the entire recording. With two snare drums, an over the bar fill and a five stroke roll somewhere in the middle, it’s enough notes to properly fit into any mid-90’s GRP release.

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120 BPM

Why is he climbing a mountain?

Brought to you by my dear friends and former bandmates – www.fallonyoursword.com

Loop #89

I’m not done with the cowbell grooves. Like I mentioned before, I think it’s time to bring one of my favorite percussive accessories back into the limelight. Rather than go the straight quarter note, “Don’t Fear the Reaper” route, I’ve went ahead and approached it from a polyrhythmic angle. In this case, a 3 against 4 phrasing over the course of a four bar groove (not to be confused with a hemiola).

To make such an academic rhythm accessible to the masses, I overdubbed some sixteenth note shaker to help keep things flowing on the dance floor. What good is a dance beat if it doesn’t make you want to grind up against a drunken stranger?

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100 BPM

“World’s Fastest Drummer”, Mike Mangini, goes under the microscope (or high speed camera) of The Discovery Channel’s “Time Warp”. I’m not sure about that “biff” move, but it’s pretty cool to see what a snare head looks like after you hit it in extreme HD slow motion.

Before “Lust for Life” was pimped out as the jingle for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (as well as being covered by Mötley Crüe, Tom Jones and, I shit you not, Bruce Willis), it was one of the classic punk/pop anthems to emerge from the late 1970’s. With thunderous, hypnotic drums and two guitars doubling the bass line, it’s one of those tracks that barrels forward like a locomotive controlled by Billy Mays (if train engineers weren’t required to take drug tests).

Iggy Pop - Singer/Contortionist

Loop #88

Today’s loop takes a cue from Hunt Sales’ original drum groove (one that, apparently, makes you want to spend a week in a 8′x10′ room and eat from buffets), and tightens things up just a bit. Less slosh on the hats and some snappy bass drum will let you go ahead and create your own radio-friendly variation to cash in on. Oh wait, The Strokes and Jet beat you to it.

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202 BPM