Shufflemonster sprung into existence in an atmosphere of freedom of artistic/musical expresssion. From early on The Groovestress [aka Lisa] was ever encouraging the band to 'free up', 'stretch out', 'Jam out'! After one gig wherein I tried some wild, experimental, risk taking, Shuffle embellishments,[after which I felt somewhat sheepish that maybe I had overstepped my bounds, and played recklessly 'over the edge'] I received an email from The Groovestress congratulating me on a job well done,and refering to me enthusiastically as 'a real Shuffle Monster'.--I signed my email reply [and most subsequent emails]'Shufflemonster', recognizing it as a fun moniker. What I did not realize at the time was how this lighthearted, seemingly superficial name change, would lead to a serious performance art project within the band project, and an original way of approaching/playing the Groove!

It seems that unlike moi, who is 'just a drummer' :-), Shufflemonster is an entity who's name defines his sole purpose for existence---you might just say, he is driven, single focused, and as such, where artistic expression is concerned, he has not so much needs, as requirements. Shufflemonster requires total artistic freedom and control over his own intuitive, instinctual, spontanious, experimental, interpretational, compositional, drum style! Of course at some point Shufflemonster let the band know of his [some would say outrageous] demands, and wondered what the result would be.------- Without blinking, The Groovestress
1) Granted Shufflemonster total artistic control et al, as an entitlement.
2) Advocated for his freedom using her clout in the 'band politic'
3) Urged him to go for [even] more freedom!!
--to dig up some Jazz stuff and really 'jam out'! ,

Shufflemonster was at once elated that he was being offered more freedom than he asked for, but also somewhat beffudled, and concerned that there might be an inompatability between the danceable, traditional rhythm patterns and solid backbeats that were standard in his vintage, American Roots, Groove style--[-with some spontaneous embellishments thrown in to spice things up of course], and, a full steam ahead Jazz/Jam, free, experimental approach. This seeming connundrum could have a catastrophic effect.For example, attempting to simultaneously engage in incompatibly opposite rhythmic approaches could result in a 'paradox' which in turn, might lead to a split in the space/time continuum, causing the universe to explode, or implode, or whatever, but thats not as serious as the possibility that Shufflemonster was in jeopardy of becomming a Groovalistic oxymoron which could result in his getting a bad reputation on the local music scene as a 'busy' drummer.But the real serious issue is that the Groove could be damaged by too much indescriminate experimentation---lost in the mix! What to do?

The answer came quite simply---TEAMWORK!

a Drum&Bass Groove team with an emphasis on GROOVE, supportiveness, dedication, open communication,optimism, hope, faith in the creative process, trust, respect for self expression.A very flexible, facile, fairminded TEAM-SPIRIT.A drummer and bassist Taking turns 'holding down the rhythmic fort'. One plays 'structural', traditional Groove patterns when the other 'experiments' with rhythmic dynamics.For example, Shufflemonster can 'stretch out' rhythmically to the max. He can explore,uncover, discover, and,if necessary, recover. If Shufflemonster stumbles, he can't fall because The Groovestress will catch him, and will convert everything [all the improvisatory, impressionistic, spontaneous, free-spirited jazzed-up, jammed-out, rompin-stompin, exuberant karmic abundance] into Groove! In this manor, nothing conflicts with Groove, rather everything, every drop of creative effort serves to enrich, and enhance the Groove; ultimately becomming part of the fabric of a very organic, animated, inspired Groove form-----and---a--GrooveQuest!!!!---born of freedom of comunication, and ever reaching out----