Interplay and improvisation on the drums: Difference between revisions

In a Facebook post in 2019, Gary talked about the segment where he does a duo improvisation with Allan:

...It’s an intriguing thing, and subjective to individual taste also. But as I look at it now, this improv - as with all the others - it was just business as usual. First of all you have to take into account one rather fundamental thing. About Allan. As it is to me anyway. Allan wanted a drummer to take initiative, with conviction, and he loved just playing with someone who did that. I could feel that the very first time we played together. Back in the 70s. Now, a John McLaughlin - and there only is one - very different story. Allan was a supreme improviser, never happier than when he was playing very much “over” what was going on. And with drums he liked a lot of perpetual, creative, powerful activity. He actually depended on that! And indeed, if you listen to him throughout this whole improvised piece ... can you tell me? What is there that he’s actually leading on for me to supposedly “latch onto” in any determinable terms? In this - the case of this piece - as with every time we improvised - it was about feeling each other out - indulging in a common feeling and instinct about how long a free idea or section could develop for instance. Take the whole beginning free form stuff for example, on This video. He needed me to take initiative and start a tempo at some point, which I always did ... and do right here. Same for when we go high energy freeform, leading up to the end.