A great way to work new rhythms into your playing is to write down short rhythmic phrases on one note which use the figure(s) you are learning. Then memorise the rhythm by singing it and then playing it and finally improvising with the rhythm. When you improvise with it you can choose any notes you like, but you must stick strictly to the set rhythm. This is only an exercise but the discipline it provides will greatly benefit your playing. The following examples demonstrate a set rhythm on one note and then a phrase using the set rhythm.
The next stage is to add ties or extra rests to the rhythm figures. Notice that the rhythm is exactly the same in both bars of this example. Practice the rhythm on one note at first if necessary. Set rhythms are very common in riffs played behind a vocalist and also in horn section parts. This means that the ability to memorize a rhythm quickly and then use it on different sets of pitches is an important skill for all horn players to develop.