Description

This episode takes a little different approach with the bass player's point-of-view of drummers playing in a live band. This insightful discussion comes from Bruce Smith - a fantatic bass player with the enviable retirement gig of being in four working bands. He's having the time of his life and playing with lots of drummers across multiple genres. Bruce's current bands include:

• High & Mighty - Funk/R&B
• Critical Mass - Rock
• LXG (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) - Modern Blues
• Janelle Burrell Band - Jazz/Pop/Current Hits

Bruce's musicianship started on drums and then moved to bass which he's been playing for 58 years with killer chops. He brings a clear perspective on the special relationship between drummers and bass players., and what it means to the overall sound of the band. Bruce talks about the growth process as a musician and what it's like to understand why you're playing what you're playing. Within this framework, he also discusses...

• Why trust is so important between bass and drums.
• The perils of overplaying.
• Understanding what your job is as a drummer.
• Why fills can sometimes kill the groove, and why there's nothing wrong with silence. Music needs space.
• Locking in with the bass player is the toughest thing for most drummers to get right.
• After training in 16 drummers in his biggest band, Bruce helps drummers understand how to make the process of gelling with the band easier.
• Bruce's best advice for drummers - "Don't play so many fills."
• Why someone has to take the lead - either bass or drums - on each tune to get locked in.