Twenty Years Later: Jamiroquai “Drifting Along” by Ryan Montbleau

Following last year’s successful Songs Of Their Own video series of artists covering songs by the Grateful Dead, the Twenty Years Later video series features some of JamBase’s favorite musicians recording songs released in 1996. Looking back, the music released 20 years ago proved to be critical in both rock ‘n’ roll history and particularly within the jam band scene. The year 1996 saw seminal albums released by Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, moe., The String Cheese Incident, the Disco Biscuits, Keller Williams, Galactic, Medeski Martin & Wood, God Street Wine, Strangefolk and The Slip, helping to solidify the maturing jam scene.

There were also influential records issued in 1996 by the likes of artists as diverse as Beck, Jamiroquai, Modest Mouse, Rage Against The Machine, Johnny Cash, Pearl Jam, Sting, Tool, 2Pac and many others. The Twenty Years Later video series takes a look back at those releases, with participating artists covering songs from albums turning 20 this year. For this installment, Ryan Montbleau & Friends sing a sweet rendition of Jamiroquai’s “Drifting Along.”

British funk band Jamiroquai’s third album Travelling Without Moving featured the song “Drifting Along” as one of its 13 tracks. The deep cut was written by the band’s guitarist Simon Katz and appeared alongside the LP’s smash hit “Virtual Insanity.” Another of the Travelling Without Moving tracks, the single “Alright” was covered by Orgone as part of a previous Twenty Years Later entry.

A returning participant of last year’s Songs Of Their Own, singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau went back to Telefunken’s South Windsor, Connecticut studio to record with a number of other musicians. Taking lead vocals, Montbleau was backed by Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds members Phil Rodriguez on trumpet, Brian Graham on saxophone, Sasha Brown on guitar, Jackson Kincheloe on harmonica, Josh Myers on bass and Dan Boyden on drums, as well as The Lady Parts’ vocalists Kit Holliday and Lydia Harrell and special guest percussionist Damion Corideo.

Ryan Montbleau - lead vocals

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds:
Phil Rodriguez - trumpet
Brian Graham - saxophone
Sasha Brown - guitar
Jackson Kincheloe - harmonica
Josh Myers - bass
Dan Boyden - drums

The Lady Parts:
Kit Holliday - vocals
Lydia Harrell - vocals

Special guest:
Damion Corideo - percussion

Mixed by Jake Subin

Filmed & Edited by James Duffy