I've recently been jamming with a few percussion players and would like some insight as to what I should be focusing on as a drummer.  I understand I need to keep the beat down and lock into the bass even more now to let the percussion fill in the spaces but when do I focus more on the rythmic patterns of the percussion and lock in with him?  Which drumming/percussive pairings should I listen to for ideas?

Thanks.

Call me arrogant, but I think that typically the percussionist should weave around the drums, not the other way around (of course there are exceptions to everything). I'm sure Bartman might have a few thing to say about that drummer-centric point of view!!!

Don't compete, though. What I mean is don't play things that clash with the perc.
Say the percussionist is playing steady 16ths on a tamborine -- I would likely not play 16ths on the hi-hat, too busy.

Perhaps the song is perfect for a solid conga pattern -- then I would not play a tom pattern, but rather stick to a brass based one (unless we were looking for an african type feel).

If the song calls for a tom based pattern, then I recommend that the percusionist do the bright work, e.g. cabasa, shaker, tamborine, etc.

Percussionists can be a HUGE asset -- if they know what they're doing. If not, they can throw off the timing for other musicians who might be hearing them better than the drummer.

Excellent points James. I was going to get into the sound texture issue ... but since we didn't address a specific style genre, I just stayed away from it. I was trying to cover it when I said "don't mimic each other's parts".  This meaning rhythm as well as sound texture. Certainly there is exceptions to the rule, but that should be a basic approach. So I agree completely with you James.

I also think James made a nice list of drum/perc duos to listen to. I was hoping someone would do this ... as I just didn't have the energy to do it myself. LOL

With what Daddy-O said, I would have to say that in Pop music this is generally true. But sometimes the percussionist is driving the music, not the drummer. Therefore, the drums have to weave THEIR parts around the percussion. This would especially be true in styles where the drumset is not native to the genre ... such as traditional Latin styles.

Also, even in Pop music, if the percussionist is creating a "perc loop" ... a bed with which the rest of the band is playing to, the drums have to weave around this. Complimenting what's there, not stepping all over it.

So, it goes both ways really. It depends on the sound you are going for, and the genre of the music. For the average band or situation, I would say that the percussion is enhancing what the drums are doing.

Listen to the duos that James Walker mention. You'll hear every variation possible. Sometimes the drums lead, sometimes the percussion, and sometimes they are EQUAL ... acting as ONE VOICE!!!  Personally, I try to think "one voice" when I play drums or percussion ... it doesn't matter. I want to blend and make it so that we sound like ONE PERSON. It's a rare thing to find this type of relationship between a drummer & percussionist. You can compare it to the "holy grail" of the rhythm section ... the drummer and bassist duo acting and sounding as one.

Good point as well.

I always say "the more people in the band, the less you need to play".