Telarc

Galactic drummer Stanton Moore achieves an appealing synchronicity with organist Robert Walter and guitarist Will Bernard for their third appearance together on a Moore-led album. Groove Alchemy, also the title of a related instructional book and DVD, is all about the roots of funk drumming. Moore’s hometown is writ large on many tracks, particularly “Shiftless,” with its percolating street-beat rhythms and zippy melodies, and “Neeps and Tatties,” which connects the dots between Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. Walter’s hard-grooving “Pot Licker” nods to James Brown’s skins men Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks. And the set closes on a laidback, oddly affecting reading of the George Jones hit “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” replete with twangy slide guitar and churchy organ.