[Dixielandjazz] Your thoughts on rushing

Mon Jun 7 22:41:53 PDT 2010

Unfortunately there are some musicians that have a one speed approach to 
music and no matter what you do you end up at their speed.

I have known few players that held excellent speed.  The best I ever played 
with was a drummer from the AF band, Ken French.  I think Ken is now 
somewhere on the West coast should anyone run across him.

Horn players simply cannot control the band because their sound isn't 
percussive.  A good bass player can really help but no matter who it is 
someone has to be a leader of that section weather it's the drummer, bass 
player or whoever.  That person has to take charge musically and control the 
section.  If you don't have that then you will always have them chasing 
their tails.

Whoever it is that person has to be a leader and be able to insist on the 
others following him and not try to out play him or musically take over 
which will lead to imbalance in the section.

I get tired of someone from the rhythm section blaming the horn players for 
rushing.  Horn players have to stay within the confines of the patterns laid 
down by the rhythm section.  Who is following who?  A rhythm section should 
generally never follow a horn player.

The other thing is that the rhythm section has to listen to each other and 
lock in.  If you have people that are just listening to themselves then you 
have problems.

A solid rhythm section is actually a fairly rare thing.  I have been 
privileged with playing with some of the best but also some of the worst 
too.
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Campbell" <ricksax at comcast.net>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 5:43 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Your thoughts on rushing

I've been interviewing musicians in the Portland area for the past
year, asking them for their thoughts on the phenomenon of the rushing
rhythm section. I would like to write an essay on some of the causes
and cures for this music problem, although I will probably alienate
many of my friends in the back line when I do so.

Specifically I am interested in two types of rushing which I have
identified on OKOM bandstands, most often in pickup bands and jam
sessions, but sometimes in working professional bands, too:

1. A rather abrupt speeding up of the tune in the first few choruses.
An example would be counting off Ain't Misbehavin' at 108 MM (in 4)
and finding the rhythm section has taken it up to 126 MM, where it
more or less stays.

2. A gradual speeding up of a song from beginning to end. An example
would be counting off That's A Plenty at 120 MM (in 2) and watching
the tune nervously accelerate to 138 MM (or more) over a series of
choruses.

I am not concerned with the occasional song which is counted off at a
"wrong" tempo. That is an issue with the band leader, and probably is
another subject.

I welcome your thoughts and anedotes on the rushing challenge, and I
will give you attribution or keep you anonymous, as you wish.

So far, the most common quote is I have received: “It wasn't me, it
was him!”

So far, I have met only one musician, a successful solo female lounge
pianist, who said frankly,“Yes, I rush, and I know I do.”

Rick Campbell
Leader, Milneburg Jazz Band and Quiet Nights Trio
Portland, Oregon USA
(503) 234-9440
ricksax at comcast.net

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