Big Bass Drum Jazz

Art Blakely's Jazz Messengers
Wayne Shorter's more recent albums with Brian Blade
Elvin Jones work

Grimace,

I know what you mean about the drums. This approach to recording is called slap. The drums have a "slap" kind of sound which adds to the rhythm or attack. (Mike placement has a lot to do with it and sometimes a drum reverb machine is used)

You may also enjoy the sound of the drumming on Brick House The Commodores.

You may also enjoy Tower of Power Soul Vaccination (Live) - the dynamic range on this recording is impressive and may capture that "live" effect that you find missing on The Bad Plus studio albums compared to how they sounded live.

I am into everything jazz except totally atonal/out and really mainstream fusion but an excepion is the French contigent of Gong led by drummer Pierre Moerlin as opposed to he hippy David Allen/Steve Hillage led groups (hsarinbg some mebers otherwise).They put out an LP called Expresso (on CD it's Gadzuse but edited differently).The LP has some of the most intense drumming and is excellent with Allan Holdswroth laying down some heavy irrf on Guitar.But Moerlin is the main attraction and by the end of the fist sinde of the LP the bass,guitar,vibes et al drop out and what's left is a drumming tour de force that fusion guys like Tony Williams,Billy Cobrahm,Charly Antollini,etc. could only dream of playing as well.Fatastic LP.Have to say for main guys Max Roach,Roy Haynes,Klook(Kenny Clark),and Blakey (loved his decptive simple style especially his press rolls) were great as well as two Blue Note 60's drummers Joe Chambers and the Blue Note house man Billy Higgins were always reliable as were Paul Motian and Jack Dejohnette.Now there are some fine player like the every tasty Lewis Nash and Joey Barron.Can't say that my ear picks up bass and drums from the swing era like horn mean or piano players did.Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa being the obvious exceptions.Maybe that's why maybe the most revolutionary guy rhytmically was bassist Jimmy Blanton since in his era the Ellington band was known as the Blantop Webster Band which led to Oscar Pettiford and Mingus.Buit there was no drummer that was transition figure like Balnton was on Bass.You went from swing drumming to bebop with Roach,Haynes,and Clarke.Thinking about it all wants me to pull it all out now.TRhere is a great,inexpesnive box set by Proper called the Engine Room or something like that.Proper has put out many instrument/history of boxes that are great and the drum box is no exception.
Cheers
Chazz

Don't know if you're into Fusion/Rock/Jazz BUT....drummer Simon Phillips released 2 albums; 'Another Lifetime' & 'Out of The Blue ("Another Lifetime - Live"). Besides being 2 of the finer Fusion efforts released within this past decade there's Phillips signature bass drum sound, which can only be describes as MASSIVE! When he plays with Toto they actually mix it lower although still recognizable. Go to audiophileimports.com and treat yourself!;)

tony williams on 'the great jazz trio live at the village vanguard'. a great conventional trio, with williams working his drumkit like he's auditioning for a led zepplin gig. as weird as that sounds, it is one of the great live gigs ever put to tape. man could 'he' keep a beat.

Chazro's right AND you must read the bio on Simon Phillips. He was playing professionally at 15!

I agree with Chazzbo entirely. His picks would be mine up and down. Joey Barron is my faovrite young(ish) Jazz trap player, although Lewis Nash is on his ass. My recommendation for a great example of Joey Barron's playing, particularly his bass drum work is Masada: Live in Seville. This is one of the best recorded live performances that I've heard on CD.