Ringo, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Jeff Porcaro,Anton Fig, Dave Weckl, Vinnie C, can't put my finger on it, but they just play....the music...any thoughts ??
Another jazz drummer... but he has some of the biggest ears of any drummer I have heard. To me, a musical drummer can lay down a groove when needed or add a sense of lyrical conversation to a piece. He can really tell a story. His work with the Bill Evans trio is a fine example, as well as his solo projects from the past two decades.
Check out Michael Giles on King Crimson's first album, In The Court Of The Crimson King, An Observation By King Crimson, and also Andy McCulloch on King Crimson's third album, Lizard.
Hey Texan, I'm also a big fan of Lee Kerslake... He wasn't the best soloist, but he was a bear, who was about playing the song and composing his parts in the rhythm section with Gary Thain.
A lot of good responses here ( I particularly like Dave Mattacks and Jim Keltner as rock drummers and Jack D. for Jazz). Since, as Tvad points out, the question regarded musical drummers, I'd also look to less obvious people like Cal Tjader. He may be better known for vibes or even bandleading and songwriting, but he brought that broader sense or "musicality" to his drumset and congas, Latin Jazz was full of this phenomenon, see Tito Puente et al. Mick Fleetwood, Will Rigby, Jim Brock and Phil Collins would be somewhat analagous in the rock world IMHO.
Steve Jansen of Japan. Actually, he's David Sylvian's brother and has drummed on most of David's solo albums. Great drummer, totally under-rated, very musical (??what else could drummers be??)
Having played drums in my youth,started in junior high band,I practically worshipped Buddy Rich.There are/were a lot of good ones,but I cannot think of one I have heard that is better than he was.Yes Ginger Baker was good,but he was no Buddy Rich.
i've been over peter erskine's house and took some lessons (yeah i play)--i think he is a robot with no real heart...the only drummer on your list is ringo #1 by miles (no pun intended)--honorable mention: narada walden and tony smith....then maybe max roach--just my personal increadable list. brad
Definitely not. As a drummer for nearly 30 years, I'd say there are very few who qualify as such. A musical drummer plays compositionally, carrying a tune of their own, even when playing solo. Not many, even the phenomenal drummers in the top-100 list, are capable of being more than timekeepers and technicians.
For musicality, you can begin with anyone who ever played for Zappa...Bozzio, Wackerman, Colaiuta.
Others: Dennis Chambers David Garibaldi John French Dennis Chambers Danny Frankel Pierre Favre Omar Hakim (Not in the top-100? Top-25, IMO) Manu Katche Simon Phillips Mark Brzezicki Oh yeah, Dennis Chambers. Let's not forget him. :-)
I am always on the hunt for new great drummers, as rhythm has such a profound effect on my enjoyment of music. Well I found one.
Keith Harris. He is not famous enough to be in drum roll yet but I suspect he is well on his way to becoming one of the world's legendary drummers.
Extremely musical and excellent timing. Like the best R & B drummers, a 'groovemaster' - tasteful and accentuating the music rather than driving and in your face.
Another Harvey Mason perhaps? I'll be watching you Keith!
I'd also second the comment about Mick Fleetwood. Mick's a very musical drummer. Nothing he does is technically difficult or flashy, it just sounds good. Mick has a high get-it factor!
I didn't see any mention of Corky laing (Mountain) man can he belt it out....also no disrespect to anybody who likes Neil Peart..I know we are talking rock music BUT....I feel to be a good or really good drummer, you have to be able to play more than one style...Have you seen the video of Neil Peart playing big band with the Buddy Rich band.....he quite frankly stinks...he cant do it...and it is on tape
Xiekitchen has some hot drummers, but consider Manu Katche, Terry Bozzio, Trilok Gurtu, Phil Collins, Ginger Baker has done some interesting stuff, Steve Gadd is "in the pocket" - the list goes on.
I've always found it hard to quantify questions as such, believing that you can't really compare a great jazz drummer to a great rock drummer, just can't be done. You can only say their either good or not. I don't think that Tony Williams could drum good punk like Topper Heading of the Clash. None of them can play the tabla like Zakir Hussain.
You had to know the Rush fans were going to come out of the woodwork like roaches on this one. I used to hear this every other weekend when I was in highschool and college and was hanging out with the hippies.
Stevecham, I may be wrong, but, I believe I read in Modern Drummer that Keith Moon did not play on the majority of that album. It may have been Kenny Jones.
Since this thread is really about great drummers in general, add Todd Sucherman of Styx to your list. Anyone who has seen Styx live or has heard of Todd will understand why he gets my vote.
On Tommy? No way it's Kenny Jones, that's Keith Moon back in 1969. Jones never sounded that good and besides, the band didn't work with him until after Keith died.
Stevecham. I found the article in Modern Drummer. Kenney Jones tells MD that he did not ghost drum on tracks before Keith died. He also admits to doing the soundtrack to the film Tommy, stating that Keith was in the studio but out of it.
That film soundtrack is a joke and is insulting to the music and the band, despite their stoned-out participation; Oliver Reed and Ann Margret singing? Yuk.
I'm talking about the original studio album, which is the only version worthy of mention. Keith rocks may he RIP.
Stevecham, personally I could care less about the album or the film just passing along info. Also, I wouldnt refer to Moon as a musical drummer. He certainly took a new approach to rock drumming and influenced countless of drummers with his unique approach and theatrics. Musical drummers are Peart, Porcaro, Bonham, Bruford and Rich just to name a few.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
