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Surviving drum solos ;)



 
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jicetp
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Joined: 30 Mar 2004
Posts: 987

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:51 am    Post subject: Surviving drum solos ;) Reply with quote

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

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 7080
Location: Houston, TX.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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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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