10 great progressive drummers

[trumvirvel]

Since the "10 grooviest..." thread gave me many "missed" drummers to check out, I thought I'd post a list with 10 of my favourite prog-drummers (that I have on CD - still haven't heard an entire Genesis classic *ashamed*).

Please add your favs to the list, preferably with a recommended record with the drummer in question. Hmm...I probably should do the same - that is, give a record suggestion for each...

Here it goes (alfabetically):

Bozzio (Rudess - Feeding the wheel)
Bruford (Yes - Fragile)
Colaiuta (Megadeth - The system has failed)
Donati (Planet X - Universe)
David Husvik (Extol - Synergy)
Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard - V)
Ted Kirkpatrick (Tourniquet - Where Moth and Rust destroy)
Mangini (La Brie - Elements of persuasion)
Peart (Rush - Test for Echo)
Portnoy (Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos)


Hope you found some "missing" gems there...

/M

[sir_willy]

Phil Collins! Awesome, yet subtle "play for the song" kind of work throughout all of PG era genesis. I've always loved his style of hi hat work.

[PreppieNerd]

I'd say Permanent Waves or 2112 for Peart and Octivarium for Portnoy

[caprisun3484]

Danny Carey- Lateralus

[drumtechdad]

Gavin Harrison, Porcupine Tree: "In Absentia," "Deadwing," "Fear of a Blank Planet"

Kris Myers, Umphrey's McGee: "Anchor Drops," "Safety in Numbers"

[DamoSyzygy]

Id have Jason Rullo from Symphony X in that list too.

[Butch Axsmith]

Doen't forget Jack Dejohnette ////
Butch Axsmith

[stasz]

Originally Posted by drumtechdad

Gavin Harrison, Porcupine Tree: "In Absentia," "Deadwing," "Fear of a Blank Planet"

Kris Myers, Umphrey's McGee: "Anchor Drops," "Safety in Numbers"

YES! Kris is amazing, love love love his playing. The playing on anchor drops... That's my idea of a good album, in every way. Fantastic drumming.

Funny how he could be in this thread just as easily as the 10 grooviest thread (atleast in my opinion).

[spartacus1989]

I haven't heard any bad progressive drummers!

[volume_3]

In no order, imo:

Teemu Kilponen (Hidria Spacefolk - HDRSF - 1)
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet)
Neil Peart (Rush - 2112)
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory)
Jon Theadore (ex-The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute)
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon)
Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways)
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath - The Best Of Black Sabbath)
Charlie Zeleny (Behold... The Arctopus - Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning)
Mike Guy (Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice)

[chuzwazza]

Lucius Borich-Cog. Sammy J. Watson- apex theory.

[trumvirvel]

Originally Posted by Butch Axsmith

Doen't forget Jack Dejohnette ////
Butch Axsmith

Jack de Johnette a progressive drummer (in the prog-rock sense)? He is surely one of my favorite jazz drummers (mostly heard - and once saw - him play with Keith Jarrett). Are you referring to his playing with Miles? ("Bitches Brew") or has he been in any "prog supergroup" I've missed?

Have "Bitches Brew", but must admit I have hardly listened to it, maybe ought to change that...

/M

[drumtechdad]

Originally Posted by youenjoy00myself

YES! Kris is amazing, love love love his playing. The playing on anchor drops... That's my idea of a good album, in every way. Fantastic drumming.

Funny how he could be in this thread just as easily as the 10 grooviest thread (atleast in my opinion).

Yes, actually, both he and Harrison could make that list. I first heard about Myers from the MD interview--I checked out the band and dug it immediately. I was struck by how classy the guy was in that interview; very gracious and self-effacing.

Neither is perhaps as proggy as the others here, but both bands can make 7/8 sound as easy as a stroll through 4/4.

My son's band--all 14 year-old Catholic school kids (!)--are working up a PT number. I'm fairly amazed but digging it.

[dale w miller]

Mark Zonder - FATES WARNING - Perfect Symetry

[stasz]

Originally Posted by drumtechdad

Yes, actually, both he and Harrison could make that list. I first heard about Myers from the MD interview--I checked out the band and dug it immediately. I was struck by how classy the guy was in that interview; very gracious and self-effacing.

Neither is perhaps as proggy as the others here, but both bands can make 7/8 sound as easy as a stroll through 4/4.

My son's band--all 14 year-old Catholic school kids (!)--are working up a PT number. I'm fairly amazed but digging it.

Wait, Kris was in Modern Drummer? I totally missed that... well, I only started subscribing a couple months ago. What issue?

[drumtechdad]

Originally Posted by youenjoy00myself

Wait, Kris was in Modern Drummer? I totally missed that... well, I only started subscribing a couple months ago. What issue?

Sorry, youenjoy00myself, I don't seem to be able to find that one at the moment. It was about a year ago. I'm sure MD would be very happy to sell you the back issue.

[TioChaka]

Originally Posted by volume_3

In no order, imo:

Teemu Kilponen (Hidria Spacefolk - HDRSF - 1)
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet)
Neil Peart (Rush - 2112)
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory)
Jon Theadore (ex-The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute)
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon)
Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways)
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath - The Best Of Black Sabbath)
Charlie Zeleny (Behold... The Arctopus - Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning)
Mike Guy (Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice)

Neil Peart - I know hes the best drummer in the world, and I like his technique but i think he lacks of feel

Mike Portnoy is Great, Liquid Drum Theater

Nick Mason is just too simple, he plays great, but his songs are just to plain (but the intro for Time is excelent, and you knew it was recorded using only one rototom and recording several layers XD)

I love Bill Bruford, Bonzo, Jose Pasillas (His latest work is kind of progressiveand grooves are excelent, listen to The Odyssey)

[stasz]

Originally Posted by drumtechdad

Sorry, youenjoy00myself, I don't seem to be able to find that one at the moment. It was about a year ago. I'm sure MD would be very happy to sell you the back issue.

Haha yeah I'll look for it, thanks anyway.

Originally Posted by TioChaka

I love Bill Bruford, Bonzo, Jose Pasillas (His latest work is kind of progressiveand grooves are excelent, listen to The Odyssey)

The Odyssey is really brilliant, I love the odd time stuff happening in the 2nd movement. Also the fills in the 4th movement... fantastic.

YEM

[stasz]

According to the issue of modern drummer I just got, the next issue (which will August) will be a special on Proggresive drumming, and will include a list of the top 10 prog drummers and top 50 prog albums according to MD magazine.

YEM

[Therma lobsterdore]

Originally Posted by volume_3

In no order, imo:

Teemu Kilponen (Hidria Spacefolk - HDRSF - 1)
Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet)
Neil Peart (Rush - 2112)
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory)
Jon Theadore (ex-The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute)
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon)
Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways)
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath - The Best Of Black Sabbath)
Charlie Zeleny (Behold... The Arctopus - Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning)
Mike Guy (Zero Hour - The Towers of Avarice)

Charlie Zeleny is amazing, as are the other members of Behold...The Arctopus, can't wait for an album from them.

I'm gonna have to chime in with Sean Reinert (death, cynic, aghora etc.) and Bobby Jarzombek (spastic ink), I put them both in the 'uber drummer' category.

[FloEy]

um VIRGIL DONATI!!! lol 4got that major one there man lol

[gusty]

As for portnoy...I think Awake was his best drumming album. Erotomania, 6:00, etc...but as a band Scenes From A Memory was great, I have a thing for concept albums. haha, well all their albums are great.

[Muckster]

Rod Morgenstien - Any Dregs / Dixie Dregs album.

[drew.]

Home, Dance of Eternity, Endless Sacrifice - Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater

[gusty]

Originally Posted by drew.

Home, Dance of Eternity, Endless Sacrifice - Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater

Home is the song which got me so into dream theater. Dance of Eternity is an epic. But for the progressive side of MP/DT, erotomania is my favourite.

[TioChaka]

Originally Posted by drew.

Home, Dance of Eternity, Endless Sacrifice - Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater

Originally Posted by gusty

Home is the song which got me so into dream theater. Dance of Eternity is an epic. But for the progressive side of MP/DT, erotomania is my favourite.

Home did the same to me, I learnt it instantly

but dont forget HELL'S KITCHEN

[wy yung]

If talking about Progressive rock drummers. The one I admire more than any other is Bruford. I also think Allan White is a wonderful player due to his ability to play on hit pop type songs. As is Phil Collins.

Bozzio's awesome, but I don't think of him as a Prog drummer. Actually I don't think of the above two that way either.

If we are speaking about drummers who actually help music expand and progress, as opposed to a pop style of rock and roll, I can name hundreds starting from Babby Dodds and Chick Webb through Lenny White Steve Gadd and Vinnie. Amongst many many more.

Of course Tony goes without saying. As does Buddy. Buddy's probably, with Tony, the most progressive drummer of all time.

I can't bear listening to guys that only play prog rock.

[squee02]

hells kitchen is good, but i'm suprised learning to live hasn't been mentioned yet.

It's all about Bill Friggin' Bruford. The minute Prog went from becoming an idiom to a genre, a lot of the magic died. That was about 1975.

[Jeremy Bender]

Listen to Carl Palmer from ELP early albums, notably "Tarkus" and "Brain salad Surgery"

[balboa]

neil peart = hemispheres, moving pictures, power windows
bill bruford = yes(fragile) , king crimson (thrak, discipline, red)
carl palmer = ELP (tarkus)
mike portnoy = dream theater (falling into infinity, awake, images and words) liquid tension experiment 1 and 2
billy cobham = mahvishnu orchestra, stratus...all is great
jojo mayer = nerve
dave weckl

[aydee]

If progressive was to mean that the art of drums 'evolved' and 'progressed' due to the contribution of an artist,and changed they way they were played thereafter, my top 10 would be:
1. gene krupa
2. buddy rich
3.john bonham
4. tony williams
5.billy cobham
6.steve gadd
7. neil peart
8.dave weckl
9. vinnie colauita
10.mike portnoy
&
11. chris adler...........

[Ruok]

I vote for Phil Ehart on the various Kansas albums from 1974 -1980. Their music had a complex Baroque-like style with a southern rock flavor.

[Shinx]

Tomas Haake.

Not sure if he counts

[crumbdrums]

I'm disappointed; not much love for Mr Phil Collins. He's a lock for a top ten slot. Foxtrot is full of fantastic drumming.

[stasz]

Originally Posted by crumbdrums

I'm disappointed; not much love for Mr Phil Collins. He's a lock for a top ten slot. Foxtrot is full of fantastic drumming.

I concur, Watcher of the Skies is brilliance.

YEM

[squid]

Had to look through 30 posts before I saw Carl Palmer's name mentioned. C'mon guys, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

[crumbdrums]

Originally Posted by youenjoy00myself

I concur, Watcher of the Skies is brilliance.

YEM

Not to mention Supper's Ready (Apocalypse In 9/8!!!!!)

[shawn]

Who is the drummer for Symphony X, that dude is pretty insane

[squid]

Apocalypse in 9/8...haha, look at my avatar!