Re: jazz rhythm
reed kotler ( (no email) )
Thu, 21 Nov 1996 12:17:52 -0800
At 12:59 PM 11/21/95 -0800, you wrote:
>I just discovered this discussion group and it seems to be a great
>resource
>for mature and aspiring musicians. Here's my first question...
>I am exploring the area of rhythm in improvisation. Especially phrasing
>in 3 against 4 or 4 against 3 at the single beat level up to multiple bar
>levels. My problem is that I invariably get lost as I extend ideas
>across bar lines etc. I can compose rhythmic templates that I know will
>get me from A to B however I feel like I should be able to do this
>spontaneously. Do the pros have such a good sense of where "1" is that
>they can do anything they want without getting lost?
> I am playing piano and having to comp seems to amplify the problem.
>Any suggestions? Any good books on the subject?
>
Andrew,
I would say composing templates is the right way.
You are doing your homework and that's the right thing to do.
True spontaneity is a fantasy. It looks or sounds like that
because that's how it appears to an outside observer.
Top players are usually either playing things they have worked out
or variations of them.
Pro's get lost just like anyone else.
If you syncopate alot, make sure you are consistent, i.e. that
there is a consistent theme.
Otherwise the time will get turned around because the syncopated
note will be mistaken for 1 or some other beat.
reed
>Andrew Trott
>Kingston, Ont, Canada
>renmusic@sympatico.ca
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