It's interesting that the "rule" seems to be that the bassist is the timekeeper in jazz, but in a lot of bands, the players habitually lock to the drummer. I'm

It's interesting that the "rule" seems to be that the bassist is the timekeeper in jazz, but in a lot of bands, the players habitually lock to the drummer. I'm ready for it to go either way. In my main band, I have a good rapport with the drummer (we've been playing together for 20 years), and so we are a pretty tight unit. Sometimes if the drummer has to miss a rehearsal, then it's just me, and I don't mind reminding the band that they can trust the bassist. It's kind of like driving in heavy traffic. You might not completely trust the cars in front of and behind you, but choosing your own speed is fraught with risks. ;-)