Top 3 Greatest Living Jazz Drummers

JerryOnDrums said:

Are we judging based on how they play NOW, or their historical accomplishments? Basically, new-er breed, or old breed? I mean, Roy is still totally killing it, but the days of Now He Sings, Now He Sobs are over...

Old: Roy, Jack, Foster

New: Stewart, Blade, .....and Rodney Green!

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8Mile said:

1. Roy Haynes. Roy is a historical jazz figure. One of the most important jazz drummers ever. He played with Bird in his early years and helped shape the post-bop vocabulary with his unique sound and approach. Roy's way of playing the snare drum and the sound he got from it was unique in his time; it earned him the nickname "Snap Crackle." His playing with Chick was another chapter of innovation. The drumming on Now He Sings... is one of my favorite jazz performances. A legend. Yeah, he's lost a step in the past couple of years. But at 85, I still saw him swing a band at the Detroit Jazz Festival into bad health. He's a savvy veteran and knows how to get the most out of his physical abilities. He's easily #1 on my list.

2. Jack DeJohnette. Jack has been on the scene for over 40 years but he's lost nothing. He's maybe the last great to arrive in the lineage of great jazz drummers through the golden years of jazz. His playing with Miles was groundbreaking, funky and swinging. And I've enjoyed his solo work and some of the more "out" projects like Song X. But for me, he's at his very best with the Jarrett trio. Jack doesn't play any licks. He seems to have an endless well of fresh ideas that sound completely spontaneous all the time. He's the most pure improviser, listening and playing entirely in the moment, I've ever heard. His touch is impeccable, his drum and cymbal sound tasteful and innovative and he's just pure class.

3. Jimmy Cobb. Jimmy is often overlooked, but this is the man who played on arguably the greatest jazz record of all-time: Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue. Not to mention all those other great Miles and Cannonball Adderley dates. Jimmy was understated and a minimalist, but he swung like a motherf****r on those classic 50s and 60s dates and when he played something, he MEANT IT. Jimmy is still active in NYC and still swings. We need to be honoring this guy while we still have him. He was an integral part of so much music that has meant so much to so many people.

Click to expand...

8Mile said:

1. Roy Haynes. Roy is a historical jazz figure. One of the most important jazz drummers ever. He played with Bird in his early years and helped shape the post-bop vocabulary with his unique sound and approach. Roy's way of playing the snare drum and the sound he got from it was unique in his time; it earned him the nickname "Snap Crackle." His playing with Chick was another chapter of innovation. The drumming on Now He Sings... is one of my favorite jazz performances. A legend. Yeah, he's lost a step in the past couple of years. But at 85, I still saw him swing a band at the Detroit Jazz Festival into bad health. He's a savvy veteran and knows how to get the most out of his physical abilities. He's easily #1 on my list.

2. Jack DeJohnette. Jack has been on the scene for over 40 years but he's lost nothing. He's maybe the last great to arrive in the lineage of great jazz drummers through the golden years of jazz. His playing with Miles was groundbreaking, funky and swinging. And I've enjoyed his solo work and some of the more "out" projects like Song X. But for me, he's at his very best with the Jarrett trio. Jack doesn't play any licks. He seems to have an endless well of fresh ideas that sound completely spontaneous all the time. He's the most pure improviser, listening and playing entirely in the moment, I've ever heard. His touch is impeccable, his drum and cymbal sound tasteful and innovative and he's just pure class.

3. Jimmy Cobb. Jimmy is often overlooked, but this is the man who played on arguably the greatest jazz record of all-time: Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue. Not to mention all those other great Miles and Cannonball Adderley dates. Jimmy was understated and a minimalist, but he swung like a motherf****r on those classic 50s and 60s dates and when he played something, he MEANT IT. Jimmy is still active in NYC and still swings. We need to be honoring this guy while we still have him. He was an integral part of so much music that has meant so much to so many people.

Click to expand...