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All About That Bass, But Give The Drummer Some
AUGUST 28, 2015 5:39 PM ET
Here’s a duo that’s at the foundation of music itself, but which isn’t always noticed: the musical interplay between the bass and the drum.
“You know, in any sort of music, the bass and drums should work as one instrument,” Christian McBride says. “It determines whether it’s funk or jazz or country or rock ‘n’ roll. It all depends on what rhythms are coming from the bass and the drums that make a particular music what it is.”
So what does McBride look for in a drummer? He says he looks for drummers who are good listeners, who respond well to the rest of the band — sort of like a basketball point guard who inadvertently controls a game.
“I love a drummer who is sensitive and lets the person who’s soloing navigate where the song is going,” he says.
Scott K Fish 