I played a really fun trio gig last weekend at this cool little steakhouse in Eaglerock, CA — “Colombo’s Italian Steakhouse.”
We played a variety of styles: pop, funk, jazz, etc.
What made the gig so fun were the grooves, mainly between bass (me) and drums. The groove creates the space for all the other sounds to sit on. Without space there is no where for the vocals and solos to go.
The groove provides the support for everything and gives the audience a stable reference for enjoyment and their participation: they dance, they move, they bob their heads, they smile, they put money in the tip jar and buy CD’s.
A groove creates a new universe that everyone can be in. It belongs to the musicians creating it and anyone else in the space of the groove.
As a full closet cannot accommodate additional clothes, a groove with too many notes cannot accommodate additional expression.
You can have fun, show off and use some chops.
But keep the groove solid and embracive. Incorporate everything in your space and create a new universe.
Groove on!
Marty B.
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