Rutsey was straight-forward rock and roll. In this old video I think a lot of Alex’s solo is just jamming, with Rutsey laying down the rhythm and keeping it tight. It always amazes me that good musicians can just “play”.
I saw Phil Keaggy playing several years ago and he had about 6 other people up with him. He got a request from the small audience (in a small church) and said something like “Well - I know it! And I think the drummer knows it. And the rest can catch up!”
It was pretty amazing to watch as the other players found their way. The one gal started off playing a violin, but pretty early on she switched off to a flute and it mixed right in perfectly!
I grew up with Keaggy, Dan and Eddie Pecchio, Jim Gustavson.
Good times