I’d probably give it to one of Joe Morello’s great solos. I’m not sure which one, though. Buddy Rich has never been my cup of tea.
Rich was all about speed and noise, with very little subtlety (read “none”), which is why I never liked him. Add his arrogance to that lack of substance, and you have a thoroughly unlikable person. Johnny Carson had him on his show quite often and I never heard him do anything that impressed me. On the other hand, the first time I heard Morello I thought: how the fuck did he do that?
Mute Math does a lot of drum solos in their live shows, especially with the song I linked (Break the Same). I don’t know if that recording of Break the Same has the best drum solo by them (didn’t have time to check) but it’s good.
Originally posted by silenus:
This thread is terrifying me, because I remember the joke.
Okay, I’ll buy it…what was the joke? 
A scientific expedition disembarks from its plane at the final outpost of civilisation in the deepest Amazon rain forest. They immediately notice the ceaseless thrumming of native drums. As they venture further into the bush, the drums never stop, day or night, for weeks. The lead scientist asks one of the natives about this, and the native’s only reply is “Drums good. Drums never stop. Very bad if drums stop.” The drumming continues, night and day, until one night, six weeks into the trip, when the jungle is suddenly silent. Immediately the natives run screaming from their huts, covering their ears. The scientists grab one boy and demand “What is it? The drums have stopped!” The terror-stricken youth replies “Yes! Drums stop! Very bad!” The scientists ask “Why? Why? What will happen?” Wide-eyed, the boy responds, " . . . BASS SOLO!!!"
And there’s, of course, the Buddy Rich joke (copied from here, as I’m too lazy to remember it exactly):
A horn player who had been playing with Buddy Rich for many years came back from vacation to hear a rumour that Buddy had died. He didn’t quite believe it, so he phoned Buddy’s wife and said “Can I speak to Buddy please?”
Buddy’s wife said, “I’m sorry, Buddy passed away last week.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, and hung up.
A couple of hours later, he called her again. “Is Buddy there please?”
“No, I’m sorry. Buddy’s no longer with us,” said Buddy’s wife. And hung up the phone.
Ten minuted later, he called Buddy’s wife again. “Can I speak to Buddy please?” he said.
She recognized his voice, and said: “Look, I’ve told you before, BUDDY’S DEAD!” And slammed down the phone.
Two minutes later, and the phone rang again… “Is Buddy at home please?” the horn player asked.
Buddy’s wife was furious. “I’m not going to tell you again, Buddy is dead… D. E. A. D. DEAD. Why do you keep ringing me to ask for Buddy!!!”
He thought for a moment, and said: “I just love hearing you say it.”
First thing that came to my mind is Elvin Jones’s solo on “The Drum Thing” (of Trane’s “Crescent” album). Motherfucker keeps the form throughout. Unfuckingbelieveable. Lots of good ones, though.
Johnny Carson was a fairly talented drummer himself. He sure could sell that Carnac thing.
My nomination is going to be Ringo’s drum solo with the Beatles. There was only one, but it was sublime and fit right in with the rest of side 2 of Abbey Road.
OT, but I disagree, and possibly not respectfully. Ever heard the Lester Young, Dave McKenna, Buddy Rich trio? It’s all great music.
If you don’t believe me, ask Danny D’Imperio (ghost drummer for BR in the 1970s, and a very good drummer in his own right) – he’ll probably kick your ass! That’s incentive, ain’t it?