Players with a Strong or Unique Rhythmic Concept

[jeromesteele]

A lot of the players I am listening to lately have particularly highly developed rhythmic concepts. I'm currently checking out Miles Okazaki, David Gilmore and Wayne Krantz.

If anyone has any insights into how these guys, or other players that they find interesting developed their rhythmic ideas, I would be grateful for your thoughts.

Also anyone have any other players they are listening to that they find rhythmically compelling?

Thanks.

[teok]

Bo Diddley!


Wayne Krantz did some vids for Guitar World and discussed rhythm in some of them.

I've always dug Nile Rogers jazzy approach to funk rhythm playing

[mr. beaumont]

Nelson Veras, for sure.

[Engine Swap]

Marc Ribot

[fumblefingers]

Charlie Christian.

[FatJeff]

Thanks for pointing out Wayne Krantz's video. I've checked out his "Improviser's OS" material before and I think now is the time to get back into that. What a great concept!

[Moonray]

Since we're talking about ways to approach rhythmic concepts.

I just saw Jerry Bergonzi's new DVD on Rhythmic Concepts [not its exact title]

This work is based on Jerry's "Melodic Rhythms" book and having him demonstrate
many of the ideas in the book is a great help to "cut the work down to size"
so to speak.

The DVD is available at Jazz Heaven [the site's name]....stream for 24 hours or 90 days
or get the DVD and 24 hour stream thrown in.

...And I don't have any connection to Jazz Heaven ...[just hope to get there one day]

[robertoart]

James Blood Ulmer.

[TH]

I get a lot from horn players. Sonny Rollins, Joe Lovano, motific constructive soloists take rhythmic phrasing as a natural part of building an idea. Players like Noah Preminger and his oft sideman Ben Monder also take the subtleties of rhythm to a new level, one that comes only from having impeccable time.
David

[tribalfusion]

Wayne Krantz, Scott Henderson and of course John McLaughlin who has studied so much konakkol and rhythm in general.

Al Di Meola in a more Latin context has a wonderful right hand and Allan Holdsworth has a unique way of floating over the time.

Alex Machacek is a younger player who has a lot happening rhythmically as well which might remind one of Zappa, Colaiuta and Holdsworth a bit.

[pubylakeg]

Don't know if the OP was looking specifically for guitarists but because this is a Jazz forum I'd suggest Charlie Parker as a study in rhythm/syncopation. Bird's subdivision of time and rhythmic conception were incredible !.

[jeromesteele]

Thanks for all of the great replies.

I definitely need to put Sonny Rollins Trio Live at Village Vanguard back into regular rotation. That stuff is a goldmine. I haven't checked out a ton of Joe Lovano outside of the Paul Motian trio with the exception of his "Trio Fascination" album with Elvin on drums. Any recommendations?

Noah Preminger's "Haymaker" album is great. Ben Monder is unbelievable on that one - as is his custom.

I've gotten a lot out of listening to Mick's playing with Jack DeJohnette's group - mostly on Youtube... there is a 5 part concert uploaded there from 1988.

.

There was a thread on modern or contemporary comping... this video could really just be a clinic for that. But his rhythmic phrasing, both in comping and line construction is inspiring.

So much great stuff out there. Thanks for sharing.

[jdaguitar2]

I like Avi Bortnick.

[jster]

Al Di Meola in a more Latin context has a wonderful right hand

I'm glad you mentioned him. I've been really enjoying his recent stuff with Gonzalo. He sounds better than ever.

[JensL]

Gilad Hekselman especially the trio stuff with Ari Hoenig is great! Like Nelson Veras he did some stuff which is subdivided in 5 rather than 4 or 3.

Scofield is also someone with a rhythmic concept that is unique, even if it's mostly about how to place the notes in relation to the beat.

Jens

Edit: here's a favourite of mine:

[Doctor Jeff]

I second John Scofield. I listened quite a bit to his tribute to Ray Charles That's What I Say, and then listened to the originals by Ray. I found it instructive how Scofield played around with his timing much the way Ray did--much more interesting than just playing mechanically to the tempo. I think all soloists should listen to and learn from vocalists, as well as horn players. (Frank Sinatra famously said he modeled his singing style after trumpet players.)

James Ulmer was a disciple of Ornette Coleman. I saw him play with and without Ornette in Atlanta back in the early 80's. His set at the 688 Club--a veritable dive--was one of the musical highlights of my 20's. I was close enough to get sprayed by his sweat.

[ES125er]

A lot of the players I am listening to lately have particularly highly developed rhythmic concepts. I'm currently checking out Miles Okazaki, David Gilmore [...]

Then you'll have to get into saxophonist Steve Coleman's work: this is pretty much where they got their rhythmic concepts. There is a lot of material on his website: http://www.m-base.com

[jeromesteele]

Steve Coleman is one of the heaviest guys out there. He is really a titan as far as I'm concerned.

I agree about Gilad as well. He sounds great with Ari...I love his first 2 solo albums as well.

The Nelson Veras stuff is really great, though I find myself struggling to wrap my head around what he is doing in a way that I can approach at this point. But that says more about my own deficiencies rather than his playing. I hope to get to a point where I can hear it better - that being said, I still enjoy listening to his music, his tone, touch and the movement of his melodies are all beautiful.

[janepaints]

grant green...james blood ulmer...wille hale...charlie christian...django r...sunny ade

[JakeAcci]

relative to some of the excellent names already dropped in this thread I know this will be a somewhat square suggestion, but: Pat Metheny. I think his time and rhythmic conception is impeccable and unique. The rhythmic and dynamic control he has always floors me. Nowhere near as technically advanced and conceptual as Hoenig, but his later trio stuff is a great study in what can be done (on the guitar specifically) in a very conventional format.

[GuitOp81]

Then you'll have to get into saxophonist Steve Coleman's work: this is pretty much where they got their rhythmic concepts. There is a lot of material on his website: http://www.m-base.com

+1
Okazaki and Gilmore point precisely towards Steve Coleman.
On the other hand I can't think of a musician that I find interesting who is not interesting rhythmically as well, at the micro (swing, rhythmic displacement) or at the macro level (odd rhythms, poly-rhythm)

[newsense]

Charlie Hunter

[teok]

When I think of musicians with a unique style and a hip quirky sense of rhythm, the first guy I think of is Monk.