My two favorite drummers are Phil Collins (Genesis–Back in NYC, Eno—Sky Saw) and Elvin Jones. Genesis’ Selling England by the Pound was, for a large portion of my life, among my favorite records. A big reason is that, even after listening to it hundreds of times, I could still be surprised by interesting little percussive elements that I hadn’t noticed before. It is one of the few albums I put on now just to listen to the drums.
As far as Jones, I think Mingus once said that he never plays on the beat but around it, or that he never plays the beat where it is, but rather he paints a picture that makes you feel it’s there while providing enough other stuff around it to keep you interested. Great examples abound, but try anything off the relatively unheralded Coltrane LP Sun Ship, especially Dearly Beloved.
I don’t really know Steve Gadd very well, but most every time I’ve ever encountered him on record, his technicality takes my breath away. One of my favorite drum tracks has to be Steely Dan’s Aja, which thrills me to no end.
There are more than a million completely interchangeable rock drummers out there. Put them in another band and you wouldn’t notice their absence or addition. Scott Krauss (Pere Ubu–Final Solution), David Robinson (15-60-75–Animal Speaks), and Paul Thompson (Roxy Music–Remake/Remodel) have similar styles—each propel songs forward in a way that requires you to attempt to pound your foot (feet) in time, no matter where you are or what you are doing, resulting in potentially awkward situations—but are unique and recognizable and certainly exceptions. They make these and so many other songs special. I think this is actually a different David Robinson than the great drummer from Massachusetts who played with DMZ and became a star with the Cars. Can anyone confirm this? I know this applies to all these guys, but I’ve just gotta say, Paul Thompson, holy crap (2 HB).
You all know what I think of John Bonham. When the Levee Breaks is still the heaviest damn thing ever put on vinyl. How is it that his drums are so much heavier than anyone else’s’? Talk about a recognizable, signature sound. For a completely different take on heaviness there is Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra–Miles Beyond).
Bill Bruford (Heart of the Sunrise) is a genius, but my favorite Crimson drummer is Michael Giles (In the Court of the Crimson King). That’s 10. I’m forgetting lots of others that it will kill me to remember.
Music Corner w/ Archive 