# Next week is Drum Solo Week on Letterman! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311 "2011-06-04T15:46:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/42 "2011-06-10T17:55:18Z")
Just had a thought. What about mini-polls based on one person’s (the OP’s) choice of ten or fewer clips of “great drumming as I see it” with the voting to be on those clips. That would place a burden on the poll’s creator to have some worthy examples of the drummers in question. Voters would have the opportunity to judge the drummers based on actual performances, irrespective of genre or whatever else. As poll winners are found, playoffs could be arranged, leading to an ultimate Top Drummer (as selected by SDMB). Variations? Improvements? Shitty idea? ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/43 "2011-06-10T18:16:00Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Just had a thought. What about mini-polls based on one person’s (the OP’s) choice of ten or fewer clips of “great drumming as I see it” with the voting to be on those clips. That would place a burden on the poll’s creator to have some worthy examples of the drummers in question. Voters would have the opportunity to judge the drummers based on actual performances, irrespective of genre or whatever else. > > As poll winners are found, playoffs could be arranged, leading to an ultimate Top Drummer (as selected by SDMB). > > Variations? Improvements? Shitty idea? If I’m following, I think that’s an excellent idea. As I understand, you mean for several of us to individually pick ten or so clips representing what we, personally, think are “the best” and create a poll for people to vote, based on our videos. Then the results of those polls would be run against one another in a “grand finale” poll. Is this what you mean? 'Cause I could do that, I think (the finding and posting ten examples part, I mean. I don’t know nothin bout settin up no polls. :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/44 "2011-06-10T18:49:10Z")
> [@DfrntBreign](#): > > If I’m following, I think that’s an excellent idea. > > As I understand, you mean for several of us to individually pick ten or so clips representing what we, personally, think are “the best” and create a poll for people to vote, based on our videos. Then the results of those polls would be run against one another in a “grand finale” poll. > > Is this what you mean? 'Cause I could do that, I think (the finding and posting ten examples part, I mean. I don’t know nothin bout settin up no polls. :eek: ) You got it exactly. As many “mini-polls” as there are people wanting to do them. Maybe several per individual OP. Like I might want to do several, you several, others several each, etc. Each of us would try to find some good examples of favorite drummers and post the clips and the names (poll fashion) and let chips fall where they may. The same drummer might be on several sub-polls perhaps with differing clips. I’ll do a follow-up post on how to do a poll. I think it’s well explained as a sticky on one of the forums if not every forum where polling is allowed. Anyway, I’ll get a link here shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/45 "2011-06-10T18:56:14Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’ll do a follow-up post on how to do a poll. I think it’s well explained as a sticky on one of the forums if not every forum where polling is allowed. Anyway, I’ll get a link here shortly. Took long enough to find that I missed the edit window. Anyway: > **[The Polling feature is enabled. Here's how to use it](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533069)** > > RULES We’re not really changing any rules here. Polls have always been allowed in IMHO, but now they’re automated. We know this is a fun new toy to play with, but PLEASE don’t overwhelm the forum with a zillion new polls right away or all of the... The Polling feature is enabled. Here’s how to use it. 09-22-2009, 01:00 PM Gary “Wombat” Robson Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/46 "2011-06-10T19:56:50Z")
**DfrntBreign** , your observations in Post #39 are really good. I endorse that sort of breakdown/categorizing as opposed to musical genre, by a long shot. For me, as far back as _Peter Gunn_ days, one of the tastiest drummers was Shelly Manne. His jazz groups were special and his drumming dynamics were always exciting and supportive of whoever was out front at the time. I just went looking for a good clip of him and happened across this jewel: [Louie Bellson, Philly Jo Jones, Shelly Manne, Irv Cottler and Caterina Valente](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsgD5yMShV8) which provides a basis for comparison in itself. Maybe some drum battles and one-on-one comparisons would be nice to add to the polling idea. In any event I’m voting for as close to a “drum solo” clip as we can find as the example a given drummer is to be judged on. Too much in the way of other music just gets in the way! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/47 "2011-06-10T20:54:37Z")
I would like to add Mr. Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot, and the Bombastic Meatbats : [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvABaETKzBU) And the most visually entertaining drummer ever, Mr. Vik Foxx from Enuff Z’Nuff, the Veronicas, Vince Neil band, and Pretty Boy Floyd: [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_Cj9tqU0I&feature=related) (low sound quality but you get the idea) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/48 "2011-06-10T21:29:50Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > I would like to add Mr. Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot, and the Bombastic Meatbats : > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvABaETKzBU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvABaETKzBU) Holy shit they’re awesome. Is that emblematic of their work? (Not that I won’t find out in a few hours anyway.) First impressions: they hit something of a laconic MMW groove. Also a New Mastersounds hook (See: [Simon Allen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQb7w84dDe8)). Thanks for the heads-up! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/49 "2011-06-10T22:07:40Z")
The more I think about it the more I believe the mini-polls need to be for 5 drummers. That way, the task of listening to the clips isn’t overwhelming and the differences among the drummers should be easier to keep track of at voting time. To test that theory, I’ll post a poll for the guys I mentioned first in this thread (Steve Gadd, Omar Hakim, Bernard Purdie, Billy Cobham and Anton Fig) with those same clips. After some votes and comments have come in, we’ll have a specific case to examine and maybe improve on. If you like the idea, please do a poll of your own with your own drummers and ideas for how the poll should be presented. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/50 "2011-06-10T22:16:45Z")
I’m a bit confused. Are you proposing seventyeleven distinct polls running concurrently? Or some sort of whittling down mega-thread? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/51 "2011-06-10T22:38:23Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I’m a bit confused. Are you proposing seventyeleven distinct polls running concurrently? Or some sort of whittling down mega-thread? The mega-thread would be hard to manage as a set of polls, I believe. I don’t know a simple way to do that. So individual 5-drummer polls, a few at a time, one per interested OP at a time with a time limit of maybe a week or two per poll. After one closes post another. After a few weeks compare notes in a thread such as this one and decide what next. That’s off the top of my head as an idea. We can see how the test poll works (I just put it up) and go from there, or entertain other approaches before pissing off the rest of the SDMB! Other ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/52 "2011-06-11T03:55:39Z")
> **[Pick the best drummer of these five (See OP before voting)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611952)** > > Listen to as much of these clips as you need to before picking the drummer that you feel is the best of the five. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5mDDD2\_I94 Steve Gadd - drum solo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPpXxkcd\_8 Omar Hakim - Drum solo ... Pick the best drummer of these five (See OP before voting) Today, 05:15 PM Voters: 5 (at the time of this post) ============== It took quite a while for somebody other than me to vote! I’m curious why. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/53 "2011-06-11T04:20:46Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > It took quite a while for somebody other than me to vote! I’m curious why. FTR, I absolutely suck at ‘pick your favourite/the best’ threads. Everyone in that poll is in a pantheon of sorts, and saying one is better than the other is beyond my skills. It’s not that I can’t distinguish between caliber–they’re all in a mindbogglingly different stratosphere than I ever will imagine myself to be–but they are all in a rarefied atmosphere of wowza. Not that I don’t read the threads… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/54 "2011-06-11T04:26:09Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > FTR, I absolutely suck at ‘pick your favourite/the best’ threads. Everyone in that poll is in a pantheon of sorts, and saying one is better than the other is beyond my skills. It’s not that I can’t distinguish between caliber–they’re all in a mindbogglingly different stratosphere than I ever will imagine myself to be–but they are all in a rarefied atmosphere of wowza. > Not that I don’t read the threads… I do know what you mean, and I felt guilty picking one over the others. After all, I had those folks picked as contenders for Letterman’s next slate. (Except for Anton, that is.) As an experiment in sub-polls, though, what’s your thinking? What’s going to be an improvement for the next one? ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/55 "2011-06-11T14:06:10Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Holy shit they’re awesome. Is that emblematic of their work? (Not that I won’t find out in a few hours anyway.) First impressions: they hit something of a laconic MMW groove. Also a New Mastersounds hook (See: [Simon Allen](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQb7w84dDe8)). Thanks for the heads-up! Yes indeed, that video is a pretty good representation of their sound. Jazz funk fusion with no vocals. Fantastic music for long drives in the car. They have two CD’s available - I’ve got the first release, bought it on iTunes. I never realized how versatile Chad Smith is until I discovered this band. His work with RHCP was pretty good but nothing that blew me away. Chickenfoot is a great rock sound as well, seen them live two summers back and the Chicago Theater. I would love to see the Meatbats live, but they only play small venues on the west coast. As for the polls, I think the 5 mini polls are a good idea, then you take each winner of the 5 individuals and put them in the final poll, like a tourney bracket. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/56 "2011-06-11T18:35:44Z")
In case you haven’t spotted it yet, I posted another poll at [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=612039](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=612039) Who is/was the Best Drummer of All Time? Today, 10:40 AM Quite a bit of participation from these (and others hopefully): turner Mince picker silenus gatorslap Doctor scruffycat Diogenes the Cynic Steophan Hentor the Barbarian Kobal2 unwashed brain John DiFool The obvious drawback to this particular poll has been the Other category catching most of the votes! DrummerWorld’s Top 15 All Time is definitely not the source to use at SDMB. So what’s the best solution? ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/57 "2011-06-11T18:40:41Z")
Neil’s appearance on Letterman: [- YouTube](http://youtu.be/JWyABiUpihs) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311/58 "2011-06-13T12:47:59Z")
It seems that discussion of how to manage polls (or other analysis) of the Drummers and Drumming world has either moved to… > **[Who is/was the Best Drummer of All Time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=612039)** > > Poll on the way. Source: http://www.drummerworld.com/drummerchoice.html Top 15 Drummers of all time in alphabetical order: Louie Bellson John Bonham Dennis Chambers Billy Cobham Vinnie Colaiuta Steve Gadd Roy Haynes Elvin Jones Gene Krupa... Who is/was the Best Drummer of All Time? 27 / 58 Other > **[Pick the best drummer of these five (See OP before voting)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611952)** > > Listen to as much of these clips as you need to before picking the drummer that you feel is the best of the five. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5mDDD2\_I94 Steve Gadd - drum solo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPpXxkcd\_8 Omar Hakim - Drum solo ... Pick the best drummer of these five (See OP before voting) 6 / 13 Billy Cobham …or has gone away. The two “experimental” polls I posted are far from convincing that something similar to either is the way to go. It’s time for somebody else to give it a shot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-week-is-drum-solo-week-on-letterman/584311.md?page=2)