I’ve been listening to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers all week, absolutely amazing music.
I’m familiar with Buddy Rich as well, I do need to dive more deeply into his music.
Who else should I seek out?
Shelly Manne had quite a few bands over time.
Also, the Max Roach band M’Boom.
here is an interview with Roach from NPR
Here is an old article and interview with Art Blakey. He was the man.
Gene Krupa and his Orchestra
Chick Webb, stompin at the savoy.
Tony Williams
Animal (who did lead that band)
Louie Bellson
Bill Bruford’s band Bruford wasn’t mainstream jazz, but recognized enough jazz sensibilities to be included here. (love the sax/mini-tuba(?) melody there, despite the composition, itself, kinda flirting dangerously into Adult Contemporary Land). Unfortunate that the performance got cut-off at the end.
Billy Cobham
Bellson was the best jazz drummer ever, IMO. Here’s his “Skin Deep” solo.
Heh and his next one on the YT carosel ain’t too bad either.
(dang-it Doc sure hits some dog-whistle-y Maynard Ferguson-y high notes, there!)
Brutal screw-up: that was Bruford’s band Earthworks (which he assembled and still basically led), not the Bruford band, which was more prog-leaning.
Nothing like mixing up one of your heros’ achievements. :o
Don’t forget Gene Krupa.
Oops.
Oddly enough, Spike Jones.
The great Philly Joe Jones recorded quite a few albums as leader over a twenty-something-year period from maybe 1960 to the early eighties.
He was best known as a member of Miles Davis’s quintet in the mid to late fifties, with Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland and Paul Chambers.
My own favorite jazz drummer, Elvin Jones, recorded many albums as leader from around 1960 well into the nineties.
He might be best known for his work with John Coltrane, including on A Love Supreme and John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.
Thanks for all the suggestions. For some reason, I always associate winter with jazz so I’ve been listening to it a lot.
My OP was prompted by an article I read a year or two ago that made the case that drummers, rather than horn players made the best band leaders and kept a tight beat. Anyone know where I may have read this article? I’m thinking it was in a magazine such as the New Yorker or the Atlantic, but it could have easily been in the Washington Post or New York Times.
Roy Haynes
One of his albums “Out of the Afternoon” with Roland Kirk on sax and Tommy Flanagan on piano is one of my favorites (mostly because of Kirk and Flanagan) but still, Haynes is amazing in the way he works the beat around the melodies, making his own rhythmic statements.
I nominate Ginger Baker with Cream. Arguably there was no leader, but since he came up with the idea for the band (Thank You Ginger!), I give him props for that. Also, as all three have said, any one of the three could take the musical lead at any time.
Ringo Starr and his All Star Band come to mind.
I’m not sure either of these would qualify as jazz drummers.
I thought of him, but decided leading a session wasn’t the same as being a bandleader. Anyway, great album.
I once sat next to Roy Haynes and his family at a Jon Hendricks show. It was very instructive, listening to him explain to his grandson the various things the band was doing.