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Drummers every bass player should know , and why.

When I pulled out the album liner notes from my library the name seemed to come up most often was Steve Gadd

Tito Puente as a band leader did a lot to bring a Latin fusion to the pop mix.

I was watching a documentary on Jazz dancer the "Queen of Swing" Norma Miller and she went on to describe the battle of the bands between Chick Webb and Benny Goodman to be called "The King of Swing". As she told the story of those first two star drummers Chick Webb lost his focus as he tried to outdo Gene Krupa and thus made his band hard to dance to leading to Benny Goodman and his orchestra with Gene Krupa picking up the King of Swing title. And in the end in addition to being a part of the Benny Goodman biopic we have a biopic on Gene Krupa
 
coming from a drumming background, i know many many drummers. i was a huge jazz fan, but with bass i couldn’t do a jazz song if i was held at gunpoint. some of the best drummers in bassdom are probably bill bruford, danny seraphine, ringo starr, mitch mitchell, stewart copeland, and maybe a few more but this isn’t drum forum so i don’t want to list every single drummer i like.
 
the best drummers for bassists are the ones who can groove. whenever i think of groove, i think of the cta album, some stuff off of plastic ono band, and for some reason the hendrix song “rainy day, dream away” if that’s the song i have in my head.
 
I was watching a documentary on Jazz dancer the "Queen of Swing" Norma Miller and she went on to describe the battle of the bands between Chick Webb and Benny Goodman to be called "The King of Swing". As she told the story of those first two star drummers Chick Webb lost his focus as he tried to outdo Gene Krupa and thus made his band hard to dance to leading to Benny Goodman and his orchestra with Gene Krupa picking up the King of Swing title. And in the end in addition to being a part of the Benny Goodman biopic we have a biopic on Gene Krupa
I thin the fix is in but Norma Miller could be right. Anyone but Goodman / Krupa because they were good, Chick would smoke Glen Miller.
 
Why? The songs and grooves speak for themselves
Bill Bruford...

Mitch Mitchell...

Hal Blaine...



Billy Cobham...

Clyde Stubblefield/Jabo Starks...

Oh yeah, these two guys...


Then the toughest gig as a bass player, holding down the low end, playing lead, and grabbing on to the leash of a runaway animal...


This is a good list but I would add the late great John Bonham (Led Zeppelin, of course). He's highly regarded and has influenced many of today's drummers. Also, I'd like to mention Vinnie Colaiuta who's been Jeff Beck's drummer for the last several years. There are many already mentioned and there are many more that could be listed.
Vinnie Colaiuta - Wikipedia

By the way, Billy Cobham's style reminds me of Bonham and his timing and
rhythms are impeccable. The James Brown band is one of the tightest groups ever and in my opinion, I think he and his band are the godfathers of funk.
 
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Count Bassie Orchestra is a legendary rhythm section.

Some good choices would include Dave Garibaldi (for funk), Steve Jordan (for pop or blues with a touch of swing), Vinne Paul was a very groovy drummer for heavy metal. Gavin Harrison does some really interesting things (prog rock).
Along with DG, I would also recommend Steve Gadd, Simon Phillips, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez and Steve Smith. All fantastic players.
 
Dan Brubeck.
2016-06-27-Dan-Brubeck-10_copy.jpg
 
Although considered a 'guilty pleasure' band, I really enjoy the drumming of Dave Barbarossa of Bow Wow Wow. Lots of busy tribal/latin/afro-cuban/clave beats going on. No hi-hat in his kit and always banging on those toms and timbales.
Bow Wow Wow & Adam & the Ants both had two drummers, don’t remember the name of #2 (the Ants=Bow Wow Wow + different lead singer)

Let me also add Tony Williams & Max Roach.

EDIT: Tony Williams was already mentioned, along with my list of usual suspects. Solid list in this thread.
 
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Ginger has been mentioned a few times, I never really listened to him because I always was listening to Clapton of course. Are there any particular tracks Where Gigner Baker shines?

The whole Ginger Baker trio album with Charlie Hadden and Bill Frisell. Also the album "Horses And Trees". He is simply the most MUSICAL drummer I've heard.

Also listen to how he makes "White Room" flow so smoothly when the guitar is chugging.
 
I would never evaluate a drummer by their chops. Good chops certainly give a drummer scope but they don’t define a good drummer or automatically create musical ideas. Brilliant solos don’t interest me. I want to hear a solid groove with tasteful musical fills wherever it will enhance the song.

For my money Harvey Mason has it all.
 
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