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jicetp Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 987
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:51 am Post subject: Surviving drum solos ;) |
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Hi all,
I have a question for you used to play in a Jazz setting.
I find sometimes difficult to keep track of the pulse when drummers solo.
Last Big Band gig I did, we played a version of Night in Tunesia ( arranged by Herbolzheimer ) and the last section is a drum/perc solo with punch lines from the horns.
I found it very difficult to ' sit ' on time and play accurately.
Any advice to get better at following the drummer ?
Thanks
JiCe |
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deleted_user_687c31b New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:05 am Post subject: |
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Either get the conductor to accurately queue them, or if you don't have one, ask your drummer to add queues to their solo. A good one will align his/her solos in such a way that it'll be perfectly clear when the band should play.
If you listen carefully to this recording for example, you'll hear that the drummer is setting up subtle queues for the band to act on (in the recording, it's the toms hi to low that signals the band that they're about to play). There's also a percussionist that keeps time on a cowbell to help the band count out there bars. Also, given that it's not a free solo, keeping the chord progression in your head could also help. |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Pretty common situation, I believe. One of the marks of an accomplished drummer is that you can still feel the pulse, and know where count 1 is even during a drum solo. Listen to Buddy Rich.
If you have a drummer who is not accomplished enough to do that, either he or the conductor probably needs to get involved. The problem can be, though, that the drummer himself is losing track of the beats in a measure during his solo. Better to have a less technical drum solo that retains the pulse than a lot of technical flourish that loses it.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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