Time is what we are about as drummers. If it weren’t for time, there would be no drummers. We are communicators. We use time to create grooves and melodies. Everybody has different time. I could preach about time for a long, long time. I’ve been truly blessed by having great time. But what is great time? I asked Abe Laboriel Sr. what his concept of time is. He said, “I heard a pastor say the highest form of love that exists is listening, because whenever people feel someone is listening to them, they feel loved. We musicians are professional listeners, so that when someone starts playing their personal sense of time, we are trained instinctively to know how to relate to what’s going on, and make it stronger and better than what it is.” As a North American drummer, my concept of time comes from playing the bass drum. I […]

January 2022 Issue