there's something else about comping that needs to be said. You really can't completely take comping out of context, but you do have to work on chord progressions and stuff, so there's no real getting around that

But the thing is that when you comp for somebody, it helps to really know that person musically. Its important to know what they are driving at, what they like to hear behind them when they are doing different things

If you listened to the scratch rehearsal track of me and my trio playing Swining Till the Girls Come Home over in Showcase...if you can put up with my solo and make it till the bass solo, listen to the interplay between me and Larry

the secret to how we do that is very simple. I've been to his house, he's been to mine. I've met both his parents and he's met both of mine. I've watched his son grow up from age 2 until he's now a sophomore in college. In short, I know the man and he knows me

and that's how simple it really is

so along with all the other work you are doing, find a friend who will play with you and comp for them. Never underestimate how important it is to have people who you can play with for the long haul in this music