For me, there comes a point during the gig when the music takes over, and you're just in the moment. You don't see the audience, you don't get tired, the groove is strong, and you begin to feel the tune, and know intuitively when and where to add color and tasteful fills. Timing and meter is always structured, but coloring outside the lines during an extended vamp is where the magic happens. The trick is coming back in clean with a neat transition, then end it professionally. No tune is ever played the exact same way live. I would love to finish up full time as a percussionist doing session work 💯%
We'll see.....A bucket list item for me is to play the Beacon Theater in NYC someday!😎