I have been struggling a bit to mentally justify to myself why drummers tend to compose and perform solos with the same basic structure on a regular basis. Mind you, some of these guys are certainly my influences, but I cannot wrap my head around this. Mr. Peart has been doing it on a regular basis since who knows when, now one of my teachers (Mangini) is starting to do it with DT (keeping the structure in place and maybe improvising in small bits here and there). I am not really in much contact with him to ask him, but I am having trouble coming up with any benefits to doing this versus straight improv. Improvised solos just come off a bit more adventurous and sincere and FUN compared to structured/composed ones. I am not really dogging the approach, as much as I would love to hear the take of those who do it. What's the idea? Why THIS approach versus just letting things flow as they happen that particular night? I don't think I have ever consciously structured a solo in the 24 years I have played. It always seems to happen spontaneously. I mean, there have been arrangements with other drummers (trading 4 sets of 4s, then a section of keeping time together, then trading more fours, etc... kind of what the Vinnie/Weckl/Gadd thing at B. Rich thing was, which I think was ALL improvised outside of the arrangement), but I don't really know what the advantage is of playing SPECIFIC licks/fills/parts whatnot. Anyone care to help? Humbly yours.
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