Vinnie Colaiuta’s playing on the jazz fusion group Jing Chi’s self-titled 2002 record features a feast of amazing phrases and outstanding rhythms. Recently I was listening to the album’s second cut, “Stan Key,” and a figure Colaiuta played on his China cymbal at the 4:23 mark caught my ear. He plays a four-over-five polyrhythm while keeping a steady 4/4 beat with his other limbs. I loved the sound of this rhythm and felt that I could build on it to develop some bass drum coordination. The examples in this lesson are based on Colaiuta’s polyrhythmic phrasing, and I highly recommend checking out the track.
