Behind vs. Ontop of the Beat

[PocketGroove82]

Hey Everyone,
I had a trumpet player tell me today while playing the tumbao groove on Nutville that he would prefer if I played more on top of the beat. I was unconsciously laying back because the drummer''s beat was beggin' me to and I've been playing a bunch of dance band latin stuff lately. I never really though about the stylistic nuances between true latin music and "latin jazz", but I guess there is one.

Anyways,

Here is the question. When someone asks you to play more on top of the beat, what do YOU consciously do to accomplish this slight change?
I noticed I started pushing/driving more and really listening to the drums, but I may have only succeeded in being WAY on top of the beat (or even rushing) vs. right on top.
I'd love to hear what people do/think to accomplish a very subtle change like this.

Matt

[JimmyM]

First thing I do when someone wants me more on top of the beat is stand up as straight as I can, almost like I'm at attention. You'd be surprised at how much doing things like that have an effect on your playing. When you're behind the beat, you're probably relaxed, maybe slightly hunched over, you're into it but you're in a comfort zone. But when you have to get on top of the beat, stand up as tall as you can so you can get over the beat to dominate it. Then just play normally. It sounds like a silly psychological thing, but it works. Your body motions and how you stand have a lot to do with your playing.

[phat daddy]

+1 on everything JimmyM said-- that's a big part of my formula as well. I'm a big pocket player and I love to pull the beat as far as I can, but a lot of people don't understand how well this works through a PA with drums on most styles and some bandleaders will insist you're dragging. Most of my bandleaders get and appreciate the pocket concept, but some don't. When asked to get on top of the beat, I always alter my posture so I'm not so relaxed, and I'll physically lift my right forearm away from the body of my bass so there's no contact-- then my hand actually has to work a little differently which causes me to concentrate more. The more I concentrate, the more on top of the beat I tend to play. It also causes me to play a little more aggressively, but that's another thread altogether.

[PocketGroove82]

I totally see what you guys are saying, about how a little posture adjustment can reset your mind and feel.

[tbone409]

for me eye contact with the drummer is always an important thing, even if nothing is said, a change of style accompanied with eye contact tells him that i'm not trying to go faster, i'm just playing more 'on the beat'