Who are some tasteful gospel drummers?

Duck Tape

Platinum Member
I'm getting more into this type of drumming, mainly interested in studying their approach to fills as I'm starting to really dig that style. I'm just having a bit of trouble finding some good videos because the music is maybe a little obscure and part of the church which I know nothing about. I'm not interested in the showy "chops" guys who just wail on the set at ridiculous speed, guys like this guy perhaps:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8d8Hdc4ry4

Before anyone suggests Chaffee stuff - yes I'm practising out of one of the books but I just want a few videos to check out and soak in.

Not really after "lessons" just some nice music with cool drumming.

Thank you!
 
Yeah the chops/sheds sound about as musical as extreme metal sounds to me, I am more interested in the grooves and the well paced linear fills. One of these days I'll get into Vinnie C.
 
I thought Belton's playing in that video was pretty tasteful, he keeps it mostly 16th notes and nonintrusive until his solo at 4:14. Now, Mike Mitchell... might be slightly tip-toeing over the line of popular taste... just the eensiest bit.

Matt Garstka, while being very technical, has pretty tasty fills all over "The Joy of Motion" in my opinion. I'm sure you've already listened to that, though.
 
What are we defining as gospel drummers? I'm not seeing much of a consistent style here;really this seems to be about guys that look similar, play a relatively busy style and are slotted as Gospel, even though this is not praise-based music.

The term is really confusing to me.
 
I'm just going through the suggestions now but when I say gospel drummers generally I mean drummers that play gospel music, as in christian music and some of these guys are going through music college and forming their own modern projects but their gospel roots give their creations a different flavour.

And yes they're typically black guys.
 
Larnell Lewis is the first name that came to mind.

Here he is playing in a jazz trio. He's very dynamic, tasty and musical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BblThE8ZZIo

His work with Snarky Puppy speaks for itself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuhHU_BZXSk

Porter mentioned Mike Mitchell, maybe not in a positive light as regards the question. However, after watching him play with Stanley Clarke, the guy knows how to rein it in when playing at low volumes.

I've been watching this video a lot recently and am very impressed indeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daI-OIFEJv0
 
I meant that about that particular performance of his – also as a counterpoint to the somewhat vanilla/restrained playing of Larry in the original post. I've seen some of Mitchell's other live before and thought they were more understandable ;)

Totally forgot to mention Larnell. Love that guy. Sput (regular drummer for Snarky Puppy) has more of a jazz vibe IMO.

Weckl certainly shreds on occasion? His single Get To It is a pretty fusion-y track.
 
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