Jimmy Cobb on the importance of the drummer

Now, A Jazz Moment...

MUSIC: "The Loco Motif (Jimmy Cobb and the Locomotive)," CD: Some Changes In Life (featuring Jimmy Cobb), (Roman Schwaller Jazzquartet), (Amazon download)

Jimmy Cobb: If you don't have a good drummer, then you don't have a good band.

NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb.

Jimmy Cobb: If the drummer is not able to propel everybody into where they need to be, it's not a good drummer.

Drummer Jimmy Cobb's approach?

Jimmy Cobb: Usually I have the tune going through my head, you know instead of trying to count it, I'll just be singing the tune to myself in my head. And I would try to play off of that.

MUSIC: up on drum solo and fades

This Jazz Moment with drummer Jimmy Cobb was created by the National Endowment for the Arts.