What makes a drummer great?

[Tom Read]

Some of the best I’ve worked with really lay the groove down with authority. But it’s entirely their own doing. Some of the VERY best I’ve worked with create that groove in collaboration with me. I can tell they’re listening to me, responding. We’re sending little messages to each other continuously via our playing. Asking questions, giving answers, digging what’s going on. Those are the best drummers.

 

[Willie5String]

From a Drummer’s perspective:

A Drummer's Perspective on Bass Playing

 

[nomaj]

Dennis Chambers is my favorite.

Interesting. Dennis Chambers is perhaps my least favorite "name" drummer - WAY too much overplaying. His gospel chops approach to fills seems to be to put as many beats into the measure as possible. Having seen both him and then Jack DeJohnette (with his sublime rhythmic tapestry) both within a month really confirmed my annoyance at Chambers' style of drumming.

Chambers is an exciting player with lots of technique, so I get it that lots of people like his approach to drumming; it's just not for me. Different strokes....

 

[Dr. Cheese]

JD Beck of Domi and Beck impresses me like no other drummer I am currently hearing. I suppose Questlove paved the way for him when he learning to drum the way J Dilla programmed drum machines, but Beck really plays like a human drum machine.



He was 16 when he recorded this.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

This:



Sorry but the fundamentals do count !

 

[DudeManWhat]

TB bass players tend to ask a lot of drummers.

A minimalist playing bass drum, snare and hi-hat is my kind of drummer or someone that grooves with just brushes and a snare. But if Jack DeJohnette is the one in my gig then that's a different story. In a jazz combo, a dry clicky ride (this is a function of technique not the cymbal ) is very welcome and in pop/funk, someone who has tasty and killer hi-hat chops.

I like also really "greasy" drummers NOLA drummers, for funk, blues and Zydeco (I do not play that style but love it) African - Afro pop drummers Latin guys -- high on my list and anyone who has played that can spice most styles.

A truly great drummer can do all of these things within a single tune and seamlessly transition between while locking with the rest of a rhythm section. I consider myself extremely lucky that I have been able to work for many years with a musician of this caliber. I don't know that I would ever feel the want to play with anyone else honestly. Players like this regardless of their instrument not ot only inspire, but bring out the best in everyone around them, and hopefully we can reciprocate the same.

 

[LBS-bass]

From a Drummer’s perspective:

A Drummer's Perspective on Bass Playing

This is a pretty good list. In my improvisational work I try to focus on all of that except the shredding bit. I don't think anyone cares that I don't want to shred if I can bring all the rest of it.

 

[4Mal]

Same thing that makes any rhythm section player great. Ears. /thread

Lots of good drummers mentioned here. I'm a big fan of Stanton Moore and also David Garabaldi.