Here is an interview and lesson with Stewart Copeland of the Police. What he says about playing outside of yourself is key to being a good player.

See the videos below, around 2:45 he talks about relaxation and playing outside your instrument.

This morning I searched youtube for videos that relate to what I am thinking in relation to groove for the Rock Fusio ensembles I lead at the conservatory. I stumbled onto Steve Gadd, a drummer who supplied great grooves on countless recordings but is best known for his drum part on “50 ways to leave your lover” by Paul Simon. Below is a demo by Steve Gadd on how to play the groove and then a second video that puts the groove in context. (Guitarists, check out the guitarist to the right and how subtle his playing is.)

slithering trails stream riddled smears
of splashing smattered gustwail howls
branchbrush mudgreen blackened sprays scrape

clickclok clickclok clickclok
clickclok clickclok clickclok
clickclok clickclok

smackplop muddled puddles
and drizzledrooping leaves
thightapping fingertips
wake up a silent sneeze

descending ethereal trumpet wails
upbeat a pained lament
melodic growls a scat
the trumpet sad song ends

faint piano into winds
a voice pours into hearts
filling joy with warming sadness
a curious soul departs

at the entrance by the phone slithering past a woolen couch
underneath a pair of hairy legs up the wall looking down

the man alone with piles of wax
dealt out like cards to invisible friends
inspects the covers and listens well
the turning discs of wonderful sounds

he smiles and laughs and listens close
feeling deep the poetry sung so right
the words without release a spell
of love and caring for a boy

a downward float invisibly
he brushes face-to-face
feeling warmly leaking dripdrop tears
a moment touched with grace