Best Drum Solos

Wow bdp. Don’t ever miss a chance to dump on Cream. But thanks for sharing your O-pinion. Hmm..."miserable".  That sure changes my view of Toad. Buddy Rich calling Baker a "clown" just sealed the deal. Curious though, you being the professional drummer and all, what exactly makes that solo miserable? 

Since you brought it up...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIqa27Ml3jI&ab_channel=GingerBakerTheMovie

Comments are worth reading too. I guess not everyone shares your appreciation.

bdp - I still might not agree that Ginger’s Toad solo is "miserable" BUT I do appreciate you taking the time to explain why you think it so.
I also value the opinion of working musicians a ton (musicians as distinct from rock start wannabes, as you pointed out in another post). Barring physical hearing damage, seems to me, through practice, y’all have developed much better "auditory discernment" (for lack of a better phrase). Ginger’s cymbals never seemed that bad to me but now I am interested in making that comparison to Levon Helm’s sound.

You’ve repeatedly criticized Cream for a lack of ensemble playing. There is certainly well documented history between Baker and Bruce to support this. BUT I don’t think it tells the full story on them. I can believe there were shows where the civil war was all too evident. Check out the 2005 Royal Albert Hall performances...I think those show a different/better side of that (now much more mature) trio.

Hello again, bdp.  I appreciate your ongoing commentary.  Getting later in the day for me and don't have the energy for the more deserved detailed reply.  I completely get the distinction you are making between "technicality" and musicality...not that the two must be mutually exclusive.  Good to hear a pro appreciating Mr. Starkey.  He served the song and not his ego.  Maybe nominate those splendid few seconds of him soloing in The End on Abbey Road for inclusion here.  Mighta been a bit of irony or sarcasm in the minds of the Beatles at the time of the recording but works for me, regardless.  

Ginger was certainly no model citizen but I don't think a complete music Neanderthal, either.  I did find some irony in Mr. Buddy "Personality" Rich being the one to call him a clown.  

Don't expect it will change your opinion (not trying to) but in case you've not seen this, might be of interest...maybe cast Peter Edward Baker in a slightly different light. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad7D5JsKSjw&ab_channel=JoãoBorges

Thanks for the article, onhwy61.  Enjoyed it.  

Found the excerpt below relevant in the context of the preceding discussion in this thread...
"Why was he such an in-demand drummer? An examination of his ensemble playing, musical taste, and knack as an improviser provides the answer."

Do tell....

Too many great ones to call this "best", but certainly very, very good from Mr. Gadd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vrLAK_CZrY

If you get impatient, skip ahead to ~7:30

Very pleased you liked it, bdp. We can put aside our differences about Ginger and agree on Gadd. He seems on another plane altogether. I’m not a drummer but would say there is something about Gadd’s style that is very nuanced and almost delicate yet powerful without bashing. Kind of deceptive that way. And very very quick. I’m sure you see and hear more in it than I do. Humbling is okay. Got to have high goals to aspire to. That whole performance from all participants achieves an amazing level of excellence. Bears lots of re-watching.

bdp - Thank you very much for that analysis. I enjoy learning the details behind a great music performance. I spent a lot of hours in my youth with Signore Clementi (for better or worse), so can appreciate some of the concepts. I think Gadd’s broad dynamics might be one of his traits I picked up on most readily (i.e., "nuanced") - that and his inventiveness. Thanks again. I appreciate the time you spent writing.