Favourite Drummer - / track for drumming

quote:

Originally posted by Messenger:
John M

The Tony Williams that seduced me is the Miles Davis box set of the 65-68 Quinet (Hancock, Carter, Shorter). If you're moved to buy one, Miles Smiles would probably do it. It is difficult for me to conceive how a human being can play some of that stuff, let alone one who was only something like 19 at the time.

Enjoyed your posts John. My fading brain cells struggle to remember what day it is!

Richard

Thanks and likewise. Thanks for the Tony Williams advice. I think I have Miles Smiles somewhere in this rats nest.

Yeah I tread cautiously in the hifi section as well because I tend to forget how great my CDX/XPS, Nait 5, FC2, Rega P3 sounds as soon as someone mentions a NAC 82 or an LP 12. I immediately begin plotting like a criminal (hiding expenses from my wife, spending the kids college fund, etc.)

Cheers

John

By the way Stratus is kind of an easy groove if you think about it. Lee Sklar lays a pretty steady bass line. And I just got a Jake Holmes album (somewhat mediocre) with a great sounding Kenney Buttrey on the kit.

You know what John - as I typed the comment about Stratus I thought, probably a bit a boogie if you know what you're doing. Still, I admire your modesty and appreciate the exchange of information. The wild playing makes Stratus pretty impressive. It even moved me to post a review on Amazon in praise of the remastered version a bought a few years back.

Really nice to know that my 'non-muso' instincts regarding Kenny Buttrey were something like right.

I've just been seduced into a 252 and Supercap which are a few months old. I'm waiting for them to be delivered in a couple of weeks and whilst I think they are probably a bit of a bargain, I'm suffering a little of what I think is known as 'buyer's remorse'. Would it be as much fun if there wasn't (you made my smile turn to a laugh) a little criminal activity.

Dig out the Miles Smiles ... have to say that the CD remaster worked for me. I haven't heard those albums on vinyl for years, as the LP12 remains in storage limbo whilst I hop around different work locations.

Good to talk,

Richard

Since noone else has mentioned him yet - Phil Collins.

Seconds Out remains a perennial live favourite of mine. Dance on a Volcano / Los Endos is definitely one of the more entertaining drum escapades.

From his solo work face Value contains some a few moments of quality. Admittedly it was largely downhill thereafter..

The last time I saw Genesis live was on the We Can't Dance tour at Roundhay Park. The core trio played fading Lights as the sun went down and that has always stayed with me as a memorable experience.


Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order is my second nomination. The drumming on the 2 Joy Division LPs is stonkingly good and thanks to Martin Hammet, sounds as if he was on another dimension (which at times he was since they made him play on the roof of the recording studio).

Regards
Richard S

Good man, Richard S!

I stood and briefly looked through the racks before sending my initial email. The point being that I hovered but didn't have the balls to mention Phil Collins. And, yes, I too think that Face Value was a good album. People forget he is (was?) a drummer. When my mind hovered over FV I remembered the, sort of sub-Weather Report side project of Brand X.

Clarify for me please. I thought that Genesis and maybe Collins himself, had largely used the great Chester Thompson live. (Another Weather Report connection). I don't have anything other than Face Value, I'm not a Genesis fan, so this is a question based on a vague recollection and curiosity.

Another guilty (?) secret would be Carmine Appice. Still reckon the best live concert I ever saw was Beck, Bogert, Appice.

Richard

Moon
Copeland
Gadd
Withers
Peart

The thread reminds me of the old tale about Ringo, sadly I can't remember who said it. Someone once opined that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world - to which the reply came, "Ringo isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles".

Steve

quote:

BUT don't forget Bill Wyman (the Rolling Stones get forgotten too often for my liking).

Charlie Watts beat the skins for the Stones didn't he?
I know Keith Richards is credited with playing bass on some tracks but I can't recall Bill playing drums. I'm not a Stones fan as such so await correction on this point.

As for my choice of drummer - John Bonham. Incredible power and drive.

Regards,
Steve O.

Beat me to it Jagdeep!

Another vote for Dave Lombardo. Makes some of the drummers listed here sound like deaf old ladies with arthritis.

Grahame.

quote:

Originally posted by Ioniser:
Beat me to it Jagdeep!

Another vote for Dave Lombardo. Makes some of the drummers listed here sound like deaf old ladies with arthritis.

Grahame.

like who?

quote:

Originally posted by Messenger:
Good man, Richard S!

When my mind hovered over FV I remembered the, sort of sub-Weather Report side project of Brand X.

Clarify for me please. I thought that Genesis and maybe Collins himself, had largely used the great Chester Thompson live. (Another Weather Report connection).Richard

Richard(s)

I second messenger's bravo for mentioning Phil Collins. He definitely has a distinctive sound that I used to love. On listening now, I stillappreciate his technical ability and his smooth approach to odd time signatures, both in Genesis and Brand X - but I am not as crazy about him as I was. I have a greater appreciation for the funky/more is less kind of drumming now.

But back in the day, when I needed my fix of over the top fusion madness, I used to listen to Brand X's "Unorthodox Behaviour" especially the track "Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria." It was a great lineup, and Percy Jones on fretless bass syncopated quite nicely with Collin's busywork. And, in my opinion, I find a closer link between Brand X and say, Return To Forever than to Weather Report, but that's just me. (Hey what about Lenny White?!?!)

It is obvious to say that Collin's solo stuff was more pop oriented, but he laid down some tasty simple (heavy on the echo) breaks on cuts like "something in the air tonight."

And I also think Chester Thompson did a lion's share of the drumming on Seconds Out if I am not mistaken. And he is awesome too. His work with Frank Zappa was pretty cool.

Ok, yes! Sorry, it was I. No wonder no one joined me in loving the Stones and Charlie. Bill Wyman hasn't even played the bass, let alone the drums, with the Stones for a long time (15 years?). Biggest apology ... to Charlie Watts. Thanks for shoving my brain cells back into something like the right order.

I've an idea that Collins is a declared Ringo fan. Again, I can't be bothered to get off the sofa and check. Gee, I wouldn't have thought that I would have started a fan club, but I guess I can't stand things which are praised beyond what I perceive to be their merit and that this might be a case of the inverse in thinking that PC is worth a bit more credit than he gains at the moment. Didn't he manage to keep things in check on John Martin's 'Grace and Danger', and (again I can't be bothered to check) was it him that did the drum pattern on Gabriel's 'Intruder'. Have I made a case? Not one that I was aware that I had a need to make, but I think we have to give him some dues.

The link may indeed be closer to Return to Forever. Isn't Corea one of those pianist who drums. I say this only to lead into having seen RTF at Nottm Uni and Clarke, DiMeola, White and Corea all changed instruments for a number. I wish I could remember who did what. My guess is that Chick played the drums, I seem to think Stanley was on the keyboards, that leaves Al on the bass and White on guitar. Mmmmm? Doesn't sound quite right. Anyone have any light that they can shed? Anyway, I guess that I was such a massive Weather Report fan at the time, that I thought everyone was ripping them off.

Am I anywhere near the topic of drummers?

Backing up what I suggested in a previous posting. Saw Hiseman play with his missus, Barbara Thompson, in the Lake District at Kendal. Not just on this occaision, but his solos were a real highlight of the shows. He played two of at least ten minutes. Great sense of melody and, of course, immaculate rhythm.

Oh! I know who else I think is a great drummer. Steve White who has kicked things along for Paul Weller for, I think, a long time.

What about John Alder he was in Colchester's Dane Stephens and the Deep Beats, who became The Fairies (1964). He changed his name to Twink Alder and was in Tomorrow with Keith West and Steve Howe (it is Twink who drums on My White Bicycle), he was also a founder of Aquarian Age, who made one great single 10,000 Words in a Cardboard Box - it's on just about every psych compilation including Chocolate Soup for Diabetics.

Then he reach his pinnacle, he joined the Pretty Things, he was the drummer on one of the greatest records ever made S.F. Sorrow. He left in '69 before Parachute to do a solo: Think Pink. He was backed by The Deviants.

Twink combined with The Deviants to form The Pink Fairies, the 1971 album Never Never Land is very good (not up to SF Sorrow standards, but what is?). Twink left the Pink Faries to join Stars with Syd Barrett and Jack Monk (bass). There are no recording of Stars that I know of.

Twink did some reunions with the Pink Fairies and was a member of Yes, for a brief period.

He was a very good drummer and he could sing too.

And to think I suggested that your tastes are ecletic. Again, I cannot fault your enthusiasm. A very valuable commodity in my far from humble opinion.

For me, Lee Kerslake - Uriah Heep.

Hello

Keith Moon, I can see for miles---how to attack a snare drum. Who's Next ,Quadrophenia.

Simon Phillips on the live album recorded with the Who. also on Tears for fears album sowing the seeds of love

Mark Mondisier, british Jazz drummer , recorded with Julian Joseph and others.

Manu Katch'e Ten Sumners tales by Sting.

regards

T.C

O yes Copeland as well. Very musical drummer.

T.C

quote:

Originally posted by John M:
And the last with Aynsley Dunbar was Infinity, when Steve Perry joined and changed the whole thing to a top 40 hit machine most people know. Dunbar still rocked it though!

Dunbar is great, but his successor in Journey, Steve Smith, is a phenomenal drummer as well. There are lots of great rock drummers who think they can play jazz, and plenty of jazz drummers who think they can rock, but very few who can do both as well as they can be played. To rock authentically, especially in the more pop-oriented material Journey came to play during his tenure, and to be able to play jazz and fusion authentically takes enormous breadth and inspired musicality.

Fred

Ah! I've just thought of one. Omar Hakim.

Best known to me for a spell with Weather Report, but his drumming is probably featured to its berst advantage on Sting's live double 'Bring on the Night'.