In order to better play effectively with other musicians, the drummer must have a general knowledge of the mechanics of the other instruments of the band, their function, their sound, and of what the instrumentalists (or soloists) are trying to achieve. He gets their acknowledgement in return because he, the drummer, is listening. But listening in the sense that the drummer is affecting something to give support to those musicians, which in turn will make those musicians play something else, because they will feel secure with that support. In a way, the term drummer is somewhat unfavorable, because, for Cobham, he is not beating the drums. Rather, he tries to create an environment through the drums to support his fellow musicians. So it´s knowing about his instrument (the drums) in relationship to what the other musicians do. The drummer can choose the sounds he needs in real time to support them.
Drumming supportively it´s about timing, but not in the sense of playing time metronomically, but timing in when the drummer chooses to play what so that it´s effective at that particular moment. If it´s not effective, then the drummer is out of sync with the other musicians. And the drummer can´t afford to be out of sync on any level.
Cobham suggests, when playing with new musicians for the first time on stage, to start working from the simplest position possible. For the drummer it means, first, making sure that he is in control of the instrument he is going to play on. He must also make sure he is sitting correctly. The drummer must always be conscious of what he is doing around the drum set and of what he plays on, of how the drums sound. Then, once playing, the drummer must keep his ears open, and be sensitive. It is necessary for him to listen to how the other musicians approach playing patterns, and try to sync up with them. The drummer must see who to listen to, and try to draw an equal thread around with that musician, or musicians. Then, as soon as the drummer gets to a point where everyone is in agreement with him, which should happen in a bar or two, then the drummer becomes the leader of the band.
The drummer keeps everyone together by playing with security and listening how everyone phrases. And once the other musicians know they can trust him, they can build up from there. That´s how the drummer leads a band.
Taken from the Drumeo Youtube channel.
