Campbell, M.-Back Pocket-DS/electronic pad

Back Pocket by Mat Campbell is a virtuosic exploration of polyrhythms, octatonic scales, and groove-based drumming, inspired by my love for rhythmic illusion and the expressive possibilities of the drum set. A woodblock functions as a kind of internal metronome throughout the piece, anchoring the music while allowing for playfully disorienting metric shifts—inviting both performer and audience into a world where pulse is constantly in motion.

Additional Information:

• Number of players: 1
• Difficulty: Advanced
• Instrumentation: Drum set w/electronic pad

The work unfolds in eight sections:

Introduction and Build-Up (9/8), felt alternately as three bars of 2+2+2+3 and 3+3+3
Ensemble Break (12/8)
Interlude, shifting between 9/4, 9/8, and 9/2
Subdued Groove
A. Felt in 9/8 (3+3+3)
B. Macro-feel in 12/8
C. Half-time 4/4 groove
D. Transition with rhythm section stabs; intro material begins to re-emerge
Re-introduction and Build-Up (same as Section I)
Open Drum Solo and Transition
Return of Ensemble Break (now with Drums)
Final Statement and Outro

The title Back Pocket plays on the idea of "playing in the pocket"—a drummer’s sweet spot of groove and feel—while also referencing the personal catalog of grooves and rhythmic tricks I carry with me. Many of the patterns in this piece are grooves I keep “in my back pocket,” ready to shift the pulse and stretch the time, especially when playing with (or sometimes against) an ensemble.

As many drummers know, pushing polyrhythms too far in a live setting can sometimes put you on thin ice with bandmates trying to keep strict time. With Back Pocket, the use of pre-recorded tracks lets the drum set player fully explore these ideas in a performance context and without the risk of "playing licks that will get you fired."

- Mat Campbell