This is the fourth piece in the GREAT DRUMMER series where we look at historic and rare photos (and videos) of the world's greatest drummers. Sometimes it is difficult to define the term "greatest drummer" because many people may say "why didn't include this one or that one" - popularity is not always the same a greatness and this is what may surprise some of you - maybe you've heard of popular rockers like Dave Grohl or Neil Peart, but never heard of Baby Dodds or Zutty Singleton, however, these were two of the great pioneers of jazz and indeed popular drumming in the 1920's and 30's.
I hope you enjoy the following photos and information - we have been blessed to have around a hundred years of great players and today's rock stars should bow down in gratitude to these great players who developed the art of drumming and the drum kit. If you are a drummer, beginner or established player - you will want to learn everything you can about your chosen instrument, its development and the stars that pushed the boundaries of playing.
You will enjoy this path of discovery - you may know of heroes such as Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Joe Morello and others, but you may not know names like Danny Richmond or Tiny Kahn? Its a voyage of discovery for all of us and I hope that this series will spark your interest to learn more. With the advent of YouTube and the internet we are so lucky to be able to see and listen to these great players (photos posted in no particular order) - ENJOY THESE GREAT PLAYERS
BUDDY RICH started playing on stage as part of his parents vaudeville act age two years old. Buddy went on to become probably the greatest drummer of all time. Any drummer who has any interest in his or her art, must check out Buddy and see this extraordinary player at work - Supremely talented you have to see the many video films of Buddy online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9esWG6A6g-k
LOUIE BELLSON was one of the nicest people you could ever meet - a marvellous player, composer, teacher, author and famous for developing the use of two bass drums. His recording of "Skin Deep in 1952 with the Duke Ellington Orchestra was an incredible tour-de-force and a must listen for all drummers. Louie married Pearl Bailey a huge star in her own right - Louie was undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQWaCLlK9Y
PAPA JO JONES pictured here swinging the great Count Basie Orchestra was one of the greatest innovators of jazz drumming - his hi-hat work and his fluid, easy but passionate swinging style was a huge influence on all drummers. Jo Jones is one of the most important players in drum history - check this out - his solo on Caravan :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3QFNNk3tgI
ART BLAKEY was the JAZZ MESSENGER - known as 'the Volcano" his explosive style of playing and his huge press rolls inspired a generation of modern, driving players. A fiercely forceful player who led his group "The Jazz Messengers", which featured some of the best known players in jazz history - his famous hit "Moanin'" is a jazz classic -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynZDm50EgBY
Here is his soloing on "A Night in Tunisia"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IQNPlnc9c0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plfshlhD_BY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izHspsSHXyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOrisBOzCQU
HAL BLAINE was known as the boss of the "Wrecking Crew", which was the group of musicians that dominated the LA session scene - a fabulous player who has performed on hundreds of hit recordings -including Elvis Presley, The Carpenters, Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel, Steely Dan, Herb Alpert, John Denver and a host of others:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMA03UYs_9U
BILLY COBHAM tours extensively around the world with his own band - Billy is drumming royalty having played with just about everyone of importance from Horace Silver, Miles Davis, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Stanley Clarke, George Duke and a host of others:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ijn1RLYEtE
Its about time we feature a wonderful lady drummer CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA - although married to Carlos Santana she is a star in her own right - a superb player, hugely influenced by Tony Williams - a virtuoso player who has performed with many great artists as well as leading her own group - Lenny Kravitz, Pharaoh Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Joss Stone, Hugh Masakela and many others :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsfg9SRgwEw
TONY WILLIAMS stunned the music and drumming world when aged 17 he joined the Miles Davis Group, which featured Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and of course the boss Miles Davis on trumpet. The drumming was a sensation with Tony Williams driving the band to greater and greater heights. Undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time - listen to the Miles Davis Album "Four and More" as an example of his incredible playing. Here is Tony with Miles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsCjeHWXiGY
DAVE TOUGH may not be a name that you know, but in the early 1940's Dave was swinging the Woody Herman Herd in a way that had never been heard. Davey was not a great technician and had come up as one of the famed Chicagoans, often found playing with Eddie Condon and similar artists. However, Dave Tough was an intellectual, superb writer and was just as interested in the new Be-Bop scene and wanted to expand his playing. His use of cymbals was unique and Dave was a huge influence on many drummers including Shelly Manne - please listen to his playing on the Woody Herman track of "Apple Honey" also here he is with Woody:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g-cgIB6EMQ
No history of drumming would be complete without the name CHICK WEBB. Chick was known as the King of the Savoy Ballroom and led a band that would out swing all of them. The Battle of the Bands became a famous feature of the Savoy in Harlem and when Benny Goodman bought his band at the height of their fame with Gene Krupa on drums to battle this little giant Chick won hands down - although looking at photos of Gene Krupa that night bathed in sweat it must have been one hell of a fight. Unfortunately there is hardly any film of Chick and the band, but here is a recording of Chick and the band playing "Liza".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNdFwV_aCWU
To learn more please get hold of Chet Falzerano's great book "Spinnin' the Webb - Chick Webb - The little Giant.
Moving up to today - one of the very greatest players is STEVE GADD. He has played with just about everyone of note and recently be touring with Eric Clapton around the world. Famous for his groove on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to leave your Lover" and on Steely Dan's "AJA" album. He has recorded with just about everyone from Weather Report, Chick Corea, Kate Bush, Al Di Meola, Etta James, James Taylor, Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Lee Ritenour, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob James, Lalo Schifrin, Bee Gees and a host of others - one of the all time greats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EOTl-DLkuA
Another modern day hero VINNIE COLAIUTA has an incredible technique and has been recently touring with Sting. He has worked with many great artists including Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Madeleine Peyroux etc - please watch these two video clips - he is a sensation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcjSSBsm1kQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asQN9wLhpTg
Back to one of the great legends of jazz drumming BIG SID CATLETT - he was big in stature and in massive talent. Big Sid sadly died young in 1951, but his work will be forever remembered with Teddy Wilson,Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman and of course the Louis Armstrong All Stars - here he is playing with John Kirby's group - wonderful playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAgfQOMdGfc
A giant of jazz drumming is MAX ROACH - a seminal figure in the Be-Bop revolution, a wonderfully innovative player and a master technician. Max played with jazz royalty from Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, Clifford Brown, Billy Eckstine, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz to name a few.
Please watch Max Roach playing on his Hi-Hat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8syiOwwVyY
ROY HAYNES - the name evokes incredible memories of a long life in jazz and at the top of his profession. A legend that is still today making amazing music - Born in 1925 and aged 90 still going strong - a true legend - great creativity, inventiveness and a superb technique - Roy has played with them all...
Please watch this video clip of Roy Haynes with Stan Getz (tenor sax), Steve Swallow (bass) and Gary Burton on vibes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07HBRUwPj7I
I started this blog by saying these photos were not in any order - however, if they were JOE MORELLO would be up there near the top. One of the greatest jazz drummers, famed for his work with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and in particular for his playing a solo on Take Five, Unsquare Dance, Castilian Drums and others. Supremely gifted - his left hand technique (and of course all of his playing) was breathtaking. Here is is playing Take Five:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9Eh8wNMkw
Anyone watching American Television would have been aware of the Johnny carson Tonight Show - this iconic program was hugely popular and Carson is very much responsible for bringing great drummers like Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson to the public's attention by featuring them on his nightly show. The resident band led by Doc Severinson featured a drummer who was wonderful MR ED SHAUGHNESSY - please watch his televised drum battle with Buddy Rich:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QXdi25469U
SHELLY MANNE became the top session player in Los Angeles performing on hundreds of top recordings including Peggy Lee's famous song "Fever". Shelly was also one of the greatest jazz drummers leading his own excellent groups and ran his own jazz club - Shelly's Manne Hole. He came to fame driving the Stan Kenton Orchestra to greater heights and went on to top the Down Beat Top Drummer Polls for a number of years. Here he is with his group:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOokrsEAJ6Q
Here is Elvin Jones soloing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWQjqWiGzh8
Another drumming JONES!! We've featured Papa Jo Jones and Elvin Jones - this time its PHILLY JOE JONES another true drumming great. Although not related to one another this trio of Jones' are related by their passion and originality of their playing. Here is Philly Joe soloing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIPIc3bkYoc
This is a photo of a very young MEL LEWIS.
The Mel Lewis/Thad Jones Big Band was featured every week at New York's Village Vanguard Club - it became the "must see and hear" band for everyone visiting New York - this band and the one that followed when Thad Jones left and sadly passed on was wonderful - featuring New York's finest musicians and arrangers. Mel Lewis was undoubtedly one the finest players of all time - he wasn't a showman and he wasn't a Buddy Rich soloist - but his playing was supreme when backing soloists and ensemble playing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO-LoinkYpY
ZUTTY SINGLETON (1898 - 1975) was one of the early pioneers of drumming and a huge influence on drummers such as Dave Tough, George Wettling, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and others. Zutty played with Lousi Armstrong and Earl Hines - also with the jazz starts of the day Jimmie Noone, Papa Celestin, Fate Marable, Mezz Mezzrow and Sidney Bechet, Art Hodes, Edde Condon etc. He appeared in the film "Stormy Weather playing with Fats Waller. Here is Zutty on a recorded drum solo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC7CX-ppfSk
Its impossible to include all the drummers who have played such an important role in the history and development of drumming - however, before we run out of space here are a selection of photos of other marvellous players - you can check out their playing online - enjoy THANKS Peter
AL FOSTER
BEN POLLACK (playing in the Benny Goodman Story Film)
BEN RILEY
COZY COLE
COLIN BAILEY
DANNY RICHMOND - CHARLES MINGUS GROUP
EARL PALMER
BERNARD "PRETTY" PURDIE
ED THIGPEN - OSCAR PETERSON TRIO
STEVE SMITH
IAN PACE - DEEP PURPLE
TERI LYNNE CARRINGTON
ALBERT "TOOTIE" HEATH
BILLY HIGGINS
JACK DE JOHNETTE
BUZZY DROOTIN
JEFF HAMILTON - ONE OF THE FINEST PLAYERS TODAY
KENNY CLARKE - BE-BOP PIONEER WHO MOVED THE BEAT FROM THE HI-HAT TO THE RIDE CYMBAL
DON LAMOND - PLAYED WITH THE WOODY HERMAN BAND AND WAS FEATURED ON BOBBY DARIN'S "BEYOND THE SEA"
HARVEY MASON
ALVIN STOLLER
GRADY TATE
ART TAYLOR
ANOTHER ALL TIME GREAT JAKE HANNA
TINY KAHN
BRIAN BLADE
THE GREAT RAY BAUDUC - FAMOUS FOR HIS RECORDING OF BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA
PANAMA FRANCIS
ALAN DAWSON - ONE OF THE FINEST PLAYERS AND TEACHERS
GUS JOHNSON
BARRETT DEEMS WITH GENE KRUPA AND BUDDY RICH
BILLY HART
BOBBY COLOMBY - BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS
CARMINE APPICE
CHARLIE WATTS - PASSIONATE ABOUT DRUMS AND DRUMMING, JAZZ AND THE HISTORY OF JAZZ - ALSO KEEPING THE ROLLING STONES BEAT FOR 50 YEARS
DANNY GOTLIEB
CHICO HAMILTON
BRITAIN'S KENNY CLARE
STAN LEVEY WONDERFUL PLAYER
MARTIN DREW - WORKED WITH OSCAR PETERSON
MARVIN "SMITTY" SMITH
DAVE WECKLE
JIMMIE COBB - KINDA BLUE WITH MILES DAVIS - A JAZZ MILESTONE
SHADOW WILSON
ED BLACKWELL
PAUL MOTIAN
HAROLD JONES WITH TONY BENNETT
SONNY GREER WITH DUKE ELLINGTON
SAM WOODYARD WITH DUKE ELLINGTON
VIC BERTON - BIG DRUM STAR IN THE 1920'S AND 30'S
ADOLPH PAUL BABARIN
VIOLA SMITH - AN EXTRAORDINARY LONG LIFE OF GREAT PLAYING
THE MASTER HIMSELF - ROY BURNS
CONNIE KAY - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET
THANKS FOR LOOKING AT THIS BLOG - OF COURSE THERE ARE SOME GREAT DRUMMERS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN INCLUDED BUT WE WILL COME BACK AND PRODUCE PART 5 - CHEERS PETER
