Outstanding drummers

Ok I'll be controversial and say Stuart Copeland (Police)
Especially the drunning on the track Regatta de Blanc...

there - said it...

Jim Keltner turns a drumset into a living, breathing creature. Behold his credentials.

Thomas

Listen to Live at Leeds the timing of the band may be out from time to time,but the drumming,and the overall performance of The who is stunning!

Mention should be made of Neil Peart (Rush)
and of Pip Pyle (Gong).

Mike

Unquestionably Neil Peart. IMHO the greatest drummer of his generation.

Elvin Jones. Would eat anybody else mentioned so far for breakfast.

-- Ian

From musicians that I have seen play live:

Elvin Jones - I have to agree with Sideshowbob's comments above

Denis Chambers - Amazing

Lenny White - Saw him with Vertu (including Stanley Clarke) , playing tunes from "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy"

Jeff (Tain) Watts - Playing with Michael Brecker, one of the most "kick-ass" Jazz drummers that I have seen.

Peter Erskine - Playing with Steps Ahead, not flashy at all, but seems to always be supporting the other musicians.

Mikky Dee - Motorhead's drummer, the most intense, loud rock drumming that I have seen.

As you can see, I have been much more impressed with the Jazz drummers that I have seen, compared to the rock drummers. I reckon that rock drummers have a pretty easy time of it in comparison.

Best drummer ever without doubt is Can's Jaki Liebezeit - as one member of the band remarked when a critic disparagingly said the Liebezeit sounded like a drum machine:
"Ah! Not true. Machines have some humanizing qualities. Jaki has none."

Anyone who doubts the greatness of the man should listen to Can epics like "Oh Yeah", "You Doo Right", "Mushroom", "Animal Waves", "Halleluwah" etc. For sheer intensity, for the ability to reach into the very heart of rhythm, has has no equal.

Bozo Bonham was probly the best drummer ever in rock. Donal Johnson of A Certain Ratio was always a really snappy, funk drummer.

Kevin

Chaps

I just cannot see any competition to Ginger Baker.

The man can play the drums like no other.

One horse race.

Regards

Mick

Hi
Billy Cobham---bar none
Regards
Jim

Ginger Baker:

Famously, Ginger Baker and Buddy Rich were supposed to have a "drum battle", but Buddy Rich had injured one of his hands and was unable to compete. However, Ginger played a cracking drum solo for the appreciative crowds. Buddy Rich then proceeded to play Ginger's solo, beat for beat, with one arm!

My faves

Bill Bruford (is god)
Phil Collins (and he's a great backing singer too)
Pip Pyle
Fudge Smith
Steve Jansen
Chris Cutler
Mike Giles

It's hard for modern drummers to shine - they are often locked into a click or asked to play 'in time'.

Regards

Stephen

Stephen - Yes, Michael Giles. Whatever happened to him? All that really busy snare stuff.
Worst drumming I ever heard was on that Sheryl Crow single Santa Monica Boulevard thingumy. Absolutely terrible.

A few goodies have been mentioned, also one or two that are vastly overrated (but thank God no one has mentioned Cozy Powell).

To add to the 'A' list...

Dave Weckl - I got hold of one of his tutorial video's called "Back to Basics" and if this is back to bascis I might as well give up.
Gary Novak
Terry Bozzio
Simon Phillips
Dan Gottleib
Jack DeJohnette
Tony Williams
Steve Smith (try Vital Tech Tones)
Vinnie Colaiuta
Dave Garabaldi (some of the best funk drumming ever on Live and in Living Colour by Tower of Power)
Trilok Gurtu although I suppose strictly a percussionist
Omar Hakim

I think Art Blakey is head and shoulders above everyone else - he had such drive and he could change the direction of tune instantly. Honourable mentions to Elvin Jones and Ringo Starr.

quote:

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Originally posted by Rasher:
Stephen - Yes, Michael Giles. Whatever happened to him? All that really busy snare stuff.

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He's in 21st Century Schitzoid band! Early Crimson without Fripp but Jakko instead.

see www.burningshed.com

Regards

Stephen

Rock drummers:

Keith Moon
John Bonham
Ginger Baker
Charlie Watts
Ringo Starr
Stewart Copeland

Keith Moon: For me one of the most explosive, creative, dynamic Outstanding drummers of Rock & Roll history.

John Bonham: The phrase, "the buck stops here" comes to mind when I think of his playing. Athoritative, powerful, soul-groove merchant.

Ginger Baker: As mentioned by others- killer chops, one of the true great pioneers of rock drumming.

Charlie Watts: Unbelievable, pocket/groove playing and some of the most tasteful understated drum fills in rock & roll.

Ringo Starr: Same as Watts. So very musical and highly under rated. Also, a great inflluence on Jim Keltner and others because of his backward approach to drum fills, starting with tom-toms instead of on the snare.

Stewart Copeland: The only drummer I know of who was brought in just to record his beautiful high-hat work (on the album "So"). Spawned a whole generation of Coplandesque drumming.

Also, honerable mention goes to John Convertino of Calexico for his great brush work on Feast of Wire.


Fusiion Drummers:

Vinnie Colaiuta - incredible virtuosic playing in difficult time signatures. Listen to his work on Zappa's "Joes Garage".
Steve Gadd - Another great recording artist.
Bill Bruford & Billy Cobham. Always loved the sound that Bruford got out of his snare drum, not to mention his amazing playing with Yes as well as his Earthworks projects.
Cobham- An incredible soloist.


Jazz Drummers:


Too many great ones to list here . . .

Starting with the Jones boys:

Jo Jones . . . with Count Basie
Philly Joe Jones . . . with Coltrane & Miles
Elvin Jones . . . w/Coltrane A love supreme remains a classic.

Art Blakey, Max Roach, Dannie Richmond (w/Mingus) all great Be-Bop drummers.

Tony Williams - amazing work w/Miles.

Peter Erskine and Paul Wertico. Two great drummers working today.
Erskine is one of my all time favorite contemporary drummers. So musical, so fluid to see and hear. Listen to his playing on Marc Johnsons Bass Desires.
Paul Wertico - another understated, tasteful drummer. His work with Pat Metheney is wonderful.


Regards

Max

[This message was edited by Max Bass on MONDAY 06 October 2003 at 17:36.]

quote:

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Originally posted by Stephen Bennett:
My faves

...Pip Pyle...

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Nice to see another mention for Pip Pyle who in my view is much under-rated.

Regards

Mike

I've always thought Tony Thompson (LaBelle, Chic, Power Station, some Bowie stuff) was underrated. Rock solid grooves.

I think he was the guy who replaced Bonham in Led Zep's Live Aid set, wasn't he?

Steve Gadd - pop or jazz

Jeff A

quote:

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Originally posted by sideshowbob:
Elvin Jones. Would eat anybody else mentioned so far for breakfast.

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With all due respect, I honestly don't understand statements like this. There's no question that Elvin Jones is one of the greatest, most innovative drummers ever. But this is true only for the particular music that he has served. He cannot do what Jim Keltner can do, nor vice versa. And music, as a whole, is all the better for it.

So many great drummers mentioned. But curiously, no one has mentioned surely one of the best:

Mitch Mitchell

He was Hendrix' equal in innovation and in defining the sound of the Experience.

Great list, Max. Right on for lauding Ringo, who is most definitely underrated. All too many folks dismiss him out of hand as though he were just some lovable pet dog the other Beatles kept around just because he was a good bloke, forgetting that they fired his predecessor in order to hire him. He was an innovator and served the music with creativity, swing, and joy.

Also, thanks for mentioning Paul Wertico, with whom I've had the great pleasure of playing and recording with off and on for almost 25 years. Equally wonderful is his successor in the Pat Metheny Group, Antonio Sanchez.

Boy, boys ! Jim Keltner, Elvin Jones, Ringo Starr etc were OK, but what about :

Are you THE Fred Simon, Fred Simon?

And who's that then and whats your relationship with Paul Wertico?

I will second the Denis Chambers vote especially live. I have seen him play in trio with John McGlachlan/Joey Di Francesco and with Santana earlier this year. He plays just as hard with his feet as with his hands. A true power house and bloody fast.

On the Steve Gadd front, have seen him with James Taylor and his work on the latest David Sanborn is stunning.

Its what the guy doesnt do rather than what he does that makes him so fine.

I agree with the animal choice too.

Nice beard.