Cissy Strut
The Meters, 1969, from The Meters. Solo by Leo Nocentelli.
The New Orleans funk instrumental where Nocentelli's clipped guitar lines share the lead with the organ.
Cissy Strut is a lean New Orleans funk instrumental, and Leo Nocentelli's guitar shares the lead with Art Neville's organ. His lines are clipped and syncopated, bouncing off the drums and bass so tightly that it is hard to separate lead from rhythm. There is no showy solo; instead the guitar plays short, catchy figures that interlock with the groove. The track became a foundation stone for New Orleans funk, and its lean, interlocking approach is still a model for rhythm-section guitarists. Listen for the space between the notes, where the rhythm section fills the gaps and makes the whole thing swing.
Cissy Strut by The Meters is featured in our Funk & Soul (#25) list. The solo is played by Leo Nocentelli and the song was released in 1969.
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Who played the guitar solo on Cissy Strut?
Leo Nocentelli played the solo on The Meters's Cissy Strut (1969).