Jazz is rhythm and meaning
Submitted by Jazz Suite
- Henri Matisse
There is no shortage of jazz drummers (good or bad ones!). From the moment Gene Krupa “introduced” the drums to the recording studio as a solo instrument, we have been blessed to hear some great players. Roach, Blakey, Dodds, Shaughnessey, Bauduc, Cole, Bellson and Hanna are just a few of the names you will come across, and you won’t be sorry. The Drummerworld Web site has a comprehensive list of drummers from all genres, including photos, videos, clips and bios, where you can lose yourself for days. Highly recommended.
In the vein of recommendations, here are five drummers I give you as suggested listening — my favorites:
Gene Krupa - Who else? The man who put drums on the map. The Goodman quartet. The 1938 Carnegie Hall Goodman concert. The great big bands with Roy Eldridge and Anita O’Day. The early stuff with Condon. The drum battles. But my personal favorite is his sextet work. I give the edge to Krupa over Rich for one reason: When Krupa solos, I hear the tune.
Buddy Rich - The other obvious one. No one swings harder. No one bridged musical styles to the same effect. Buddy Rich was the show. Who else could carry on for a half an hour while the band stepped off stage for a smoke. What a personality.
Chick Webb - I love the way this guy swings. The man who introduced the jazz world to Ella Fitzgerald. He propelled his band, and took on all comers. Small in stature, a hunchback, he died far too young, but not before he paved the way for guys like Rich.
Ray McKinley - The guy who put the swing into the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band, the joy of listening to McKinley is in listening to his commentary while he plays. McKinley later would lead a Miller “ghost band.” McKinley had worked with the Dorseys, co-led a popular band with Will Bradley (famous for the boogie-woogie beat and featuring McKinley’s playful vocals), and also led his own band before joining his friend Miller.
Brooks Tegler - The best drummer you never heard of? The beauty is, he plays in the Washington, DC area, so you can see him live. A disciple of Krupa, a student of the greats, Tegler may be the best living swing drummer. Equally adept at leading a
big band or a small
combo, what I love about his playing is it is always appropriate for the moment. He shares the spotlight with his colleagues, does not play over them, and is sensitive to the music. When it is his moment, he goes to town, but like Krupa, you always know where the music lies.
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