in the pocket

Definitions

1. Synonym of in the zone, playing perfectly in time, perfectly in sync with others, or with a perfect groove.
   slang
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, pocket.

Examples

“Throughout The Late, Late Show⟳, Staton is right on the money (or right in the pocket, as musicians say⟳)...”

“I've never thought that the groove was the beat⟳; I always saw⟳ it as the space between the beats. I believe⟳ that's where the phrase "in the pocket" originated.”

“Musicians who play⟳ funk and Latin tunes refer⟳ to the groove as the sense⟳ of being "in the pocket," while jazz players refer⟳ to the groove as the sense⟳ that a song is really "cooking" or "swinging"... Historically speaking, the term pocket originated in the middle of the previous century, when a strong backbeat (the snare drum striking on beats 2 and 4) became predominant in popular music... Many people feel⟳ that the question⟳ is not so much what the pocket is as much as how you know⟳ when you're in it; I guarantee⟳ that you'll know⟳ it when you feel⟳ it, because the music feels as though it's playing itself. It feels as though everything has merged together, with all the rhythmic parts being played by one instrument.”

“Use⟳ his approach⟳ for both songs to keep⟳ your rhythms in the pocket. You needn't be rigid; some stretching of the phrase is absolutely allowable for the sake of meaning. For the most part, however, ride⟳ the driving pulsations of the accompaniment with an equally grooving vocal approach⟳.”

“...Iyer argues that the backbeat in much postwar African-American popular music is seldom precisely on the beat⟳: it is slightly delayed, lending it a more 'laid back' feel⟳. Again, as with swing⟳, playing the backbeat 'in the pocket'—just slightly behind the beat⟳—does not disrupt the regularity of the beat⟳ so much as demand⟳ that we hear⟳ (and feel⟳) the rhythm in a more subtle and integrated way...”

“Most musicians who play⟳ classical music usually play⟳ too "stiff" (rigidly) to perform⟳ on popular music recordings. All forms of popular music require⟳ musicians to feel⟳ the groove and to play⟳ in the pocket (playing within the feel⟳ of the rhythm section).”

“Hell yes, use⟳ that take⟳. She was in the pocket.”

“No, you can't count⟳ on him for the environmental bill. He's in the pocket of Big Oil.”

“The allure of all this athleticism at quarterback is very strong right now, but when push⟳ comes to shove, most of the people I talk⟳ to would go with the guy in the pocket. The scrambling quarterback is like⟳ a beautiful woman -- awfully enticing, but in the end⟳ she'll break⟳ your heart.”

CEFR level