Greatest rhythm sections

I just saw The Bad Plus in concert at the Blue Note here in Tokyo this weekend. I had thought their recorded music was great but the show was fabulous and I have to say that Reid Anderson (bass) and David King (drums) from The Bad Plus really are the dog's dangly bits.

Before I saw them live, David King's creative drumming had completely changed the way I listen to drums/drummers. Seeing their show brought my appreciation of his talent to new levels. Reid Anderson is an excellent bassist, with a great sense of group. Together they are excellent. Ethan Iverson on piano could be considered the third member of the rhythm section and he too is a pianist of extraordinary range and creativity, but as the band has only three members, including all three as 'the rhythm section' might be cheating... :^)

I encourage you to listen if you have a chance (Amazon has samples - listen to tracks 3-5 on These Are The Vistas - the more accessible of the two major label albums (Motel, an earlier album on the Fresh Sound New Talent label, is not terribly well-engineered to my ears). They play both originals and some surprising covers (a jazz band which covers Aphex Twins, Nirvana, and ABBA on the same album?). If you get a chance to see them live, by all means do so. They are a huge amount of fun.

Hey, let's not forget Danny and Chris Partridge.

Benny Goodman's 1938 rhythm crew: Gene Krupa on drums, Harry Goodman on bass, and - on piano - Count Basie or Teddy Wilson.

I forgot to mention it, but I think the first response had it right. The Stax/Volt/Atlantic work by Booker T. and the M.G.s is unbeatable.

What about Paul Simonan and Topper Headon from the clash? How about Mingus' bands with Danny Richmond on drums and either Horace Parlan or Jaki Byard on piano?

Of current bands, we need to include Praxis--Bill Laswell and Bootsy Collins on basses and Brain on drums.

Isellstuff yes I was going to also say Rush but didn't have time to write it down had to answer the doorbell.

Motown's internal house band, the Funk Brothers, deserve a major nod here. That would be Pistol Allen (drums) and James Jamerson (bass).

Gotta disqualify the Who w/ Moon even though I love them. Moon couldn't keep a beat unless he a friggin metronome blasting in his headphones. Now if you want to talk most destructive (self and equipment) drummers, he would certainly get my vote.

Don't forget the JBs (Maceo Parker, et. al.) when they were backing James Brown-check out the tune "Doing it to Death".

Also, although the Tower of Power was rightfully lauded for the horn section, their rhythm section was excellent.

Finally, Issac Hayes' rhythm section on Hot Buttered Soul, recently re-released, laid it down too!

Tim Bogert And Carmine Appice; particularly in their brief stint with Jeff Beck.

McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison...with Coltrane.

How about Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespere who were the rhythm section for hundreds of reggae bands, the most famous of which was Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Allman Brothers during the Duane & Berry period.

Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth were the driving force behind the Talking Heads.

Herbie Hancock,Tony Williams,and Ron Carter with the Miles Davis/Wayne Shorter quintets is my personal favorite but I don't fell qualified to say it is the best.

Others to consider are from some of Coltrane's groups,Bill Evan's rhythm section,and the modern jazz quartet(the vibraphone served a rhythm/solo function).

In rock,Baker,Clapton,and Bruce with Cream brought counterpoint to rock and roll.

Don Brewer and Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad, who were kicked off as opening band for Led Zepplin. They were ordered off the stage when Peter Grant threatened Grand Funk's manager to get them off or else.

Also, I would put in there Bill Ward and Geezer Butler who provided the bottom and backing for the fathers of heavy metal; Black Sabbath.

And, for a few extra combos; Noel Redding & Mitch Mitchell and Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker.

For the life of me, I can't think of any contemporary combos.

I LOVE The WHO AND ZEPPLIN, BUT you HAVE to LOVE
Geedy Lee AND Neil Peart of RUSH!

Moon and Entwhistle were the better -- and I'm a big Zep fan.

I'll second the Zeppelin vote....gotta love "Moby Dick"...the Grateful Dead were pretty intense also during the "Drums" portions of their concerts.

just my 2c

Ellery

led Zeppelin period end of discussion. John Paul Jones/John Bonham

Al Jackson and Donald Dunn in Booker T. & the MGs and the Stax/Volt house band.