Top Ten Swinging Drummers

[Tom Storer]

Tough one, huh?

I'll divide mine into ten living, ten dead. In no particular order, subject to change at any time:

*dead*
Baby Dodds
Jo Jones
Kenny Clarke
Art Blakey
Ed Blackwell
Billy Higgins
Philly Joe Jones
Tony Williams
Alan Dawson
Steve McCall

*living*
Max Roach
Roy Haynes
Ben Riley
Elvin Jones
Lewis Nash
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Matt Wilson
Joey Baron
Ari Hoenig
Al Foster

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Tom Storer
Tough one, huh?

First define "swinging."

[stonemonkts]

Tony Williams
Max Roach
Billy Higgins
Joe Chambers
Han Bennink
Art Blakey
Philly Joe Jones
Elvin Jones
Bobby Previte
Jack DeJohnette

I'm adhering to the qualifying term "swinging" otherwise I would've had a few different names in that list (I mean, all drummers "swing" but some utilize it more than others, right?)

I do like pre-1950 jazz but haven't spent enough time focusing there to pinpoint any one particular drummer for the list, although I suspect I will over time. Probably if I had to choose one from that era it would be Jo Jones.

[Pete C]

I want to know who the top 10 swinging European infernal contraption players are.

[gnhrtg]

I'll edit and complete the list to ten. The way I relate to the term "swing" these players all swing (obviously the way I understand it subsumes the sub-genre related to jazz etc.). So for me, it reduces to "top 10 drummers," however if you asked me for the "top 10 avant-garde drummers" some of the guts below would not be there.

Elvin Jones
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Bill Stewart
Joey Baron
Han Bennink
Hamid Drake
Tony Williams (especially the way he sounds at the plugged nickel)
Philly Jo Jones
Jack deJohnette
Max Roach

[Tanager]

Philly Joe Jones
Kenny Clarke
Jimmy Cobb
Billy Higgins
Art Taylor

[edit]

Elvin Jones, how'd I forget him.
Art Blakey
Tony Williams
Max Roach

And why not one modern guy:

Idris Mohammed

There are so many good ones, I really think you could easily list twenty or thirty without losing steam.

[willy]

Larry Nagel. Best damn drummer around (and swingin' too).

[Tom Storer]

Originally posted by Pete C
First define "swinging."

I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I hear it.

I want to know who the top 10 swinging European infernal contraption players are.

Start your own poll!

[ThumPzshn]

Jake Hanna
Joe La Barbera
Alex Riel

There are players so conspicuously ignored at JC (e.g. Hanna, bassist Michael Moore) that I can't take this place seriously.

Re Top 10 anything: Seems like too many posters ignore the parameter and just put up the names of their favorite players, no matter what.

[bluenoter]

There are players so conspicuously ignored at JC (e.g. Hanna, bassist Michael Moore) that I can't take this place seriously.

We all have not only different tastes but different levels of knowledge. Got a problem with that?

Re Top 10 anything: Seems like too many posters ignore the parameter and just put up the names of their favorite players, no matter what.

You mean the way you did when you listed three?

[Deke]

I think I agree with ThumPzshn. I get really annoyed when I see 'Best singer' going to Brocolli Spears just because more people like her. A flash peoples. I actually rather like Ringo Starr, but no way would I ever vote him best drummer. My favourite drummer would be David Garibaldi or James Wright, but the actual best drummer I've ever heard? I think I'm wobbling a bit between Gene Krupa and Tony Allen, with a little voice inside me still shouting "No! Ginger Baker! Ginger Baker!!"

[Tanager]

Speaking of ignoring thread parameters, wasn't this "Top Swinging Drummers?"

[ThumPzshn]

Originally posted by bluenoter



We all have ... different levels of knowledge.

Obviously.

[ThumPzshn]

Originally posted by bluenoter






You mean the way you did when you listed three?

What does the number of names have to do with the point? Or is it that, according to your "different level of intelligence," they don't swing?

[bluenoter]

There are players so conspicuously ignored at JC (e.g. Hanna, bassist Michael Moore) that I can't take this place seriously.

Okay, don't take it seriously. But you're here, aren't you? So if you think that someone's being ignored, educate us!

Edit: Just saw your second post. You complained that people ignored the Top 10 concept and merely posted their favorites. You then proceeded to post three of your favorites.

Edit: I have a feeling that there's some kind of misunderstanding over the latter point.

[ThumPzshn]

Originally posted by bluenoter




Okay, don't take it seriously. But you're here, aren't you? So if you think that someone's being ignored, educate us!

Edit: Just saw your second post. You complained that people ignored the Top 10 concept and merely posted their favorites. You then proceeded to post three of your favorites.

I'm here, but only momentarily.
And I would not presume to educate you.

Reread my post. I did not complain that people ignored the top 10 concept. I complained that they ignored the parameter.This shouldn't be so difficult. Ask me my favorite drummers, and Jake Hanna's name does not immediately gush forth. However, I view him as an extraordinarily swinging drummer, which was the parameter. I agree with many of the names offered by others, and wanted to add three that I felt were deserving but neglected. So shoot me.

[bluenoter]

Originally posted by ThumPzshn
I agree with many of the names offered by others, and wanted to add three that I felt were deserving but neglected. So shoot me.

If I were to shoot you, it would be for your superciliousness, not your choice of drummers.

Edit: I hope that anyone who thinks that I misused the subjunctive will send me a PM. I'm serious!

[jamieb]

I would have to include Louis Hayes to all of the previously mentioned masters.