Re: jazz rhythm

Bert Ligon ( BLigon@mozart.music.sc.edu )
Fri, 22 Nov 1996 17:26:09 -0500

>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 Trott
>Kingston, Ont, Canada
>renmusic@sympatico.ca

I have some exercises showing the superimposition of dotted quarter rhythms
over quarter note rhythms. Practicing them (with a metronome) and some well
thought out variations will help you feel the two different pulses.

For other interested, the rhythmic exercises, the 90 million bass lines,
and some linear examples are all available at the following URL:

http://www.music.sc.edu/Departments/Jazz/Examples.html

_______________________________________
Bert Ligon
Director of Jazz Studies
_______________________________________
School of Music
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Voice: (803) 777-6565
Fax: (803) 777-6508
bligon@mozart.sc.edu
_______________________________________