I have always heard about the drummer and bass playing needing to lock in together. I have never had the opportunity to play with a descent bass player. I would like some advice concerning locking in with the bass player. Does the bass player follow the drummer, or the drummer follow the bass player, or is there a joint effort from them both? Any kind of advice would be helpful.

well, im both a drummer and a bass player (electric and upright) and really its up to the music.  the whole concept of drums as accompanyment and a "rhythm section" is taken to seriously in my book.  if it happens that you and the bass player lock into a groove because it suits the music fine ... but it doesnt have to be that way.  i played drums in an indie rock band for a while and the guitarist would write ideas for the most part and then he and i would hook up and flesh them out into songs.  so rhythmically i was more matching the guitar than the bass because of how we wrote.  

if your music tends toward the groove oriented and you want to lock in with the bass player go for it.  in that case most of the "lock" happens then kick drum matches up with the bass player when s/he plays the tonic note of the song.  say a riff in the song is based on G ... the bass player hits that low G on 1 at the same to you hit the kick. "BOOM"  locking and groove are all about  the 1.  listen to any funk album and youll hear it, personally i recommend the ohio players