Jazz drummers Hall of Fame

[mikeweil]

I've always dug the list of great jazz drummers Dan Morgenstern compiled in his liner notes to a DRG/Swing Kenny Clarke reissue, and would like to use it as the basis of this list (maybe other board members can do this for other instruments?):

Sonny Greer (1895-1982)

Baby Dodds (1898-1959)

Zutty Singleton (1898-1975)

Chick Webb (1902-1939)

Walter Johnson (1904-1977)

Dave Tough (1907-1948)

Cozy Cole (1909-1981)

Gene Krupa (1909-1973)

Jimmy Crawford (1910-1980)

Big Sid Catlett (1910-1951)

Jo Jones (1911-1985)

Kenny Clarke (1914-1985)

Buddy Rich (1917-1987)

Denzil Best (1917-1965)

Art Blakey (1919-1991)

Shadow Wilson (1919-1959)

Shelly Manne (1920-1984)

Philly Joe Jones (1923-1985)

*Louie Bellson (1924-

Tiny Kahn (1924-1953)

*Max Roach (1925-

*Roy Haynes (1926-

*Elvin Jones (1927-

Ed Blackwell (1927-

Mel Lewis (1929-

Alan Dawson (1929-

Billy Higgins (1936-

*Andrew Cyrille (1939-

*Jack deJohnette (1942-

*Al Foster (1944-

Tony Williams (1945-1997)

This is a list of drummers that were innovative, influential and original, or all of this.

Who else do you think belongs on this list?

(Any corrections on years of birth or death are welcome!)

Edited December 26, 2003 by mikeweil

[sal]

Don't forget the great Art Taylor!

Also, Tony Williams died in 1997. One of jazz's greatest losses of a young legend.

[mikeweil]

Thanks for Tony's death year, didn't have the time to look up.

Arthur Taylor - I know many great drummers that were as great as he was, but not as original and/or innovative or important as those listed: Jimmy Cobb, Oliver Jackson, Don Lamond, Vernel Fournier .... these would belong into the B-league, I think.

[agriffith]

Great list Mike, Thanks for the post!!

In addition, I would mention:

O'Neil Spencer

Sam Woodyard

Sonny Payne

Gus Johnson

Joe Harris

Osie Johnson

Charles "Specs" Wright

Charli Persip

Albert "Tootie" Heath

Frankie Dunlop

Ben Riley

Roy McCurdy

Louis Hayes

James Black

Roy Brooks

G.T. Hogan

Joe Chambers

Frank Butler

J.C. Heard

I know they're not all innovators, but they certainly have identifiable sounds, and they have all made some beautiful lasting AND swinging music. All part of a great and extensive lineage. I guess a list like this could go on for days!

And I definitely second the mention of A.T., O. Jackson, Jimmy Cobb, Vernel Fournier, etc.

Sorry, I didn't have time to list the birth dates, etc.

[agriffith]

Oops, forgot to mention:

Connie Kay

Ed Thigpen

Paul Motian

Grady Tate

Donald Bailey

Joe Dukes

Idris Muhammad

Mickey Roker

Clifford Jarvis

Good grief, I think I should go to bed now before this gets even more out of hand!

[Morganized]

Welcome agriffith,

Great to have you aboard! I remember your contribution to the old BNBB. I look forward to your input on this board. I really cannot add to your list . I would definitly second A.T., Louis Hayes, Joe Chambers,and Albert "Tootie" Heath. Some of my favorites.

[brownie]

Great list!

May I just add the following names?

- Stan Levey

- Chico Hamilton

- Sonny Murray

- Milford Graves

They belong to the list!

Mike, Alan Dawson passed away in 1996, Ed Blackwell in 1992, Mel Lewis in 1990, Billy Higgins in 2001

[John L]

How about Hamid Drake?

If we are talking about innovative, influential, and original, it is also hard to overlook Billy Cobham

[SGUD missile]

Hows about:

Dennis Chambers

Vinnie Coliauta

Gary Hobbs

Greg Bissonette

Steve Houghton

Jake Hanna

John Hollenbeck

Dave Garabaldi

Kenny Washington

Lewis Nash

Tain

Gerg Huchison

BTW: Don Lamond died two days ago ..

Edited December 26, 2003 by SGUD missile

[paul secor]

Denis Charles

Charles Moffett

Phillip Wilson

[jazzbo]

I'd add Tony Sparbaro (Spargo) and George Whettling.

[randissimo]

  brownie said:

Great list!

May I just add the following names?

- Stan Levey

- Chico Hamilton

- Sonny Murray

- Milford Graves

They belong to the list!

Mike, Alan Dawson passed away in 1996, Ed Blackwell in 1992, Mel Lewis in 1990, Billy Higgins in 2001 

In addition to the great names already mentioned, may I add a few more who have inspired me?

-Philly Joe Jones

-Louis Hayes

-Terry Lyne Carrington (recently heard with Herbie Hancock)

-Hilary Jones (1993 with Tribal Tech)

-Wilbur Campbell

-Danny Spencer

-Alphonse Mouzon (McCoy Tyner years)

-Billy Cobham

-Guy Viverose

-Eric Gravatt (Weather Report years)

-George Brown

-Jon Christenson

-Eddie Marshall

-Randy Gellispie

-Larry Bell

-George Davison

-Allejo Poveda

-Aynsley Dunbar (Zappa years)

-Antonio Sanchez

-Freddie Waits

-Billy Hart

-Rashied Ali

-Jimmy Hopps

Edited December 28, 2003 by randissimo

[Selim Sivad]

Great choices, all!

I might also add:

Joey Baron

Bill Stewart

Brian Blade

Ginger Baker (started out as a jazz drummer and has made several good jazz records lately, such as "Going Back Home" and "Coward of the County")

and let's not forget the blind guy, Joe Morello .. B)

SS

[randissimo]

  Selim Sivad said:

Great choices, all!

I might also add:

Joey Baron

Bill Stewart

Brian Blade

Ginger Baker (started out as a jazz drummer and has made several good jazz records lately, such as "Going Back Home" and "Coward of the County")

and let's not forget the blind guy, Joe Morello .. B)

SS

Joe Morello of course! How could I forget my fascination at age 14 of his creative magic on those Dave Brubeck albums like "Time Out" & "Time Farther Out"..? Man,, I wore those sides out!!!

[SGUD missile]

The mention of Joe Morello brought to mind another drummer who really had that

fingr control bag DOWN ( as well as probably the most dextrous bass drum foot

in the business : Colin Bailey ..

Colin has played with tons of great people over the years ,and cosidering the prodigious

chops he has , he never overplays and saves the fireworks for wwhen it's his turn ..

( In the manner of Louie Bellson ..)

It's a weird quirk of fate he's probably remembered best for his stint in Happy Kymes

house band on" Fernwood Tonight" as the guy who sang " disco duck "" ...

Edited December 28, 2003 by SGUD missile

[7/4]

Chad Wackerman.

[jazzbo]

Okay, if we're going to name names like Chad Wackerman, then I'll add Danny D'Imperio.

[Selim Sivad]

Then I guess it's safe to add Mike Portnoy, Terry Bozzio and Steve Smith, too

SS

[jazzbo]

No, that's not safe! You're a marked man!

[7/4]

  Selim Sivad said:

Then I guess it's safe to add Mike Portnoy, Terry Bozzio and Steve Smith, too

SS

Maybe Terry or Steve....

[SGUD missile]

  7/4 said:

  Selim Sivad said:

Then I guess it's safe to add Mike Portnoy, Terry Bozzio and Steve Smith, too 

SS

Maybe Terry or Steve....

Uhh ...I think I sense the approach of Tico Torres, CArmine Appice,

and Lars Ulrich here, guys ..

or maybe we should call this thread " Jazz Drummers Hall of Fame ..with the exception of drummers who've played wwith Zappa" ??

furthermore, I think we should restrict it to drummers who keep some semblance of a top on,

do not perform on spinning or levitating drum risers, nor use smoke pots or other pyro ..

Edited December 29, 2003 by SGUD missile

[Matthew]

  SGUD missile said:

furthermore, I think we should restrict it to drummers who keep some semblance of a top on,

do not perform on spinning or levitating drum risers, nor use smoke pots or other pyro ..

I guess that leaves Bono out, eh???

[brownie]

This thread is turning into a Hall of Shame

[Tom Storer]

One of my favorite early drummers is Vic Berton, who played with Red Nichols and Miff Mole and that crowd. He was a fantastic drummer and several examples of his work can be heard on the first couple of volumes of the Anthology of Jazz Drumming on Masters of Jazz (an indispensable series for fans of jazz drums, incidentally).

Berton's extramusical claim to fame is that he was arrested with Louis Armstrong and Frank Driggs in Culver City, California, in 1930. They had been smoking a joint.

[jazzbo]

Tom thanks for mentioning Vic, quite an innovator, and one of the best jazz tympanists ever!