Re: [Harp-L] playing behind the beat

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

I might also suggest mid-to-slowish blues tunes from the Basie and later Ellington bands - both the full ensembles and some of the small-group sessions. Those guys could sound lazy, fat and cushy.

One thing you might try is focusing on the latter part of the beat. Swing is elastic - you can push that second 8th note later and later. Maybe not so that it sounds like dotted-8th/16th, but see how far you can push it towards that edge.

Winslow Yerxa
SPAH 51 - the saucer is about to fly - get some at spah.org!

________________________________
From: Music Cal <macaroni9999@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-L list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 12:59 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] playing behind the beat


I am working more diligently on developing my rhythmic awareness. One of
the rhythmic abilities that I am presently trying to develop is playing
"behind the beat" - to give my phrasing a laid-back feeling. Anybody here
consider themselves in the good to great with respect to playing behind the
beat? If so, how do you suggest I develop this awareness, feel and ability?

David Liebman says Dexter Gordon is a master of playing behind the beat. So
I will definitely be listening to a lot more Dexter Gordon. Still, I am
wondering if anybody here has any suggestions to get this feel into my
musical toolbox.

Daniel