Who Was The Best Jazz Drummer of All Time?

[@tommonk7651]

I was so happy you included Max Roach. I'm not a drummer, but he's my guy. He played the whole kit. Loved his drumming....

[@ianstu1940]

1966’s “Drums Unlimited” is top 10 drums album ever. Love Max

[@Soul74]

I have a lot of favorite jazz drummers, but it’s hard to argue with Tony Williams.

[@patrickkelly9621]

elvin jones is the truth...

[@AndrewSwinney]

Art Bakey is the power

[@crawdaddy6969]

It really is. Certainly all these guys were fantastic. I don't like the term "best" because it is impossible to judge.

[@gilbertomolina2177]

It's a Yes ! Tony William's ! I like'm all but Billy Higgins is one of my favorites ! Cheers ! 😊

[@robertcarli5803]

Louie Bellson ❤

[@blujay9191]

Internet to English translation dictionary: Greatest = My favorite.

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

As soon as I saw the title I thought…Tony Williams. There are guys who become the favorites of a lotta various drummers and guys cop their licks along with the other drummers that they study…and their are drummers who fxxk up the matrix and EVERYONE runs to cop their style. Tony was that guy.

[@percyvolnar8010]

Yup. As soon as I saw the title, i thought the same thing. The thing about Tony is that he managed to touch drummers well outside of jazz drummers. I always thought that was odd because at the time, tony was NOT on my radar. I got a hold of his entire discography including bootlegs and recordings of him on others albums.... and yeah... dude.. Tony was a brave drummer who understood styles and played them convincingly. Jazz, Rock, Punk, Funk, Raggae, Zydeco, stoner rock ( Yes, His 'emergency' album was literally a stoner rock/fusion album in my mind- Even John McLaughlin's electric guitar sounded stoned ) there is not a style he couldn't play in. Not to mention he tuned his drums according to the style he was drumming in. No other jazz drummer stretched out like Tony Did.

[@vbassone]

YES HE WAS... TONY = #1!

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Disagree , and so does Jazz great Joe Chambers . You can’t say he sits above Elvin . Those two are my two faves

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Disagree , w “MarcPlaysDrums/Percy Volnar” and so does Jazz great Joe Chambers on whether Tony was the absolute GOAT . He says that Elvin was and I can’t disagree . You can’t say he sits above Elvin . Those two are my two faves . This is a fantastic video . My only contention is that with the newer guys who are for sure BMF’s you can clearly hear their influences . Easy to hear the Elvin influence with Tain. ..he often plays Elvin derived triplets and others some Bill Stewart ..LOTS of early Tony as had Jack De… Actually , Roy was a little BEFORE Elvin and even Elvin has conceded that he got some of his hi hat displacement ideas from Roy . Hutch is a bit of everyone mixed together too . These guys had lots of “help “. A solid blueprint with which to build . But the previous generation did not as much , although they had their influences . There was NO precedent for Tony or Elvin .. Or Blakey or Roy .. Or McCoy Tyner or Coltrane for that matter . Or for Jimi Hendrix /Eddie Van Halen on guitars . Or Wes Montgomery . The latter guys were strong stylists with younger drummers copying THEM. But it’s not the same as literally re-inventing your instrument in the way that Max , Elvin and Roy did . As slick as his fours were , Philly Joe’s time keeping was straight out of Klook’s (Kenny Clarke)’s playbook. Again, every drummer in this video is great . But some of these had little precedent for their gargantuan accomplishments.

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

@@WyattLite-n-inn its cool that he’s not your personal fav but I’m 62 which ain’t a spring chicken but I still remember. Everyone was coping Tony licks. Even rock guys. Everyone knew about Tony and wanted his sauce. Especially in the NYC tri state area.

[@aldoxporiginal]

My top 5 are : No. 5 , Jimmy Cobb , No. 4 , Max Roach , No. 3 , Tony Williams , No . 2 , Buddy Rich , and at No . 1 my jazz drumming idol when younger and still now at 44 years old is Art Blakey , The Jazz Messenger of all time !!

[@AndrewSwinney]

Agree with you!

[@aldoxporiginal]

@@AndrewSwinney Good to hear man ! Blakey No.1 for me cos he could swing so darn hard , so hard that it shook the gravitational field of the world of jazz forever .

[@gilbertomolina2177]

​@@aldoxporiginalArt Blakey, Yes ! Check Billy Higgins, Jack Wilson's Easterly Winds Recording ! Cheers !

[@Darrylizer1]

Art was the guy who really got me into jazz, more than Coltrane, more than Miles, more than Mingus. The Jazz Messengers with Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter is just some of the best jazz ever.

[@jonathanedwards8696]

Most of your guys are dead. My favorites are: Tony Williams, Bob Moses, Trilok Gurtu, Marilyn Mazur, and John Marshall.

[@timdowney7156]

As you were going through the list I kept thinking, "There's no way this fool is gonna leave out Tony Williams, is there?" Well played sir, well played.

[@NathanSletner]

Tony was the first on the list. I’m confused.

[@francismcgovern5042]

love the video, I don't disagree with your list, but the father of double bass drumming was pretty innovative and created/wrote/arranged one of the greatest drum solos of all time... Skin Deep...Louie Bellson....

[@ruffryder13]

Since I was a non-drummer when I grew up listening to jazz, my favorite drummers are just whoever played on the Mingus, Monk, Dolphy and Ornette Coleman music I love. To me, good jazz drumming is playing the jazz music people love to hear, so they are my goats :)

[@aaronhayman8558]

I really like the drummer on some of the Ornette stuff, Ed Blackwell. Not a virtuoso, but somone with a really unique recognizable style, one who could play this really foward thinking music and bring in old time New Orleans and tribal African flavors to it...

[@cadillackid2002]

How Frankie Dunlop is never mentioned is mind boggling!!

[@samdavparsley8266]

I’m next to ignorant of many of these artists. My dad grew up with probably 90% of these guys. So I forwarded your excellent video to him. I just bought a 7pc Tama SuperStar Classic. I’m about 5 weeks in as a complete newbie. I’m having a blast learning pretty much everything on the fly. At my age (not my fathers age) I grew up in Santa Maria with the 70’s funk/disco and the 80’s metal and of course Rush and backwards to Bonham etc. I am feeling so much creative radiance (even if I suck) as a newcomer to drums with maybe 3 beats and 2 paradiddles. I’m about to turn 55 and hope I can grow and capture a ton in that I missed drumming for all these years! Damn ! I dig your videos man 👍

[@georgekovacic5822]

Interesting video - Tony Williams is a the top in my book. I was truly blessed to have seen Buddy Rich play several times over the years and he was terrific but I also saw Billy Cobham several times and he blew my mind and he was out of this world! I was kind of surprised you didn’t mention him.

[@primslim620]

Yeah man, Tony was that dude. Something about how he keeps a pulse, cuts through it, uses subtle coordination technique, and keeps a straight spine on those fast tempos...not to say its unparalleled. But for his time period, and oh my goodness what he was doing with Eric Dolphy on Out To Lunch!...I feel you. Question: any good books out there on the history of Jazz drumming? I can see you've done extensive research. I'm on a journey about studying the history of rhythm. And think digging deeper to the roots of this will aid me greatly. Excellent video, as always.

[@jonathanedwards8696]

How about the history of the drum itself? A good read is drummer Layne Redman's book: "When the Women Were Drummers." (1997, Random House, Three Rivers Press). Anthropologists and ethnomusicologists agree; The drum was discovered approx. 10,000 years ago. And for the first 1000 years of the drums existence, only women played the drums. Men were not allowed to touch them. It was strictly a feminine activity. ALSO: Modern Drummer put out a history of the drum set called, "The Drummer, 100 years of Rhythmic Power and Invention." (2006, Modern Drummer Publications).

[@MrDarkstar620]

@@jonathanedwards8696 It's nice that you mentioned something of historical significance, but take note that the title of the video is "Who Was The Best Jazz Drummer of All Time?" Not about drum history and gender contribution. Or you can make that video yourself if it deeply interests you. I hope you understand what I mean.

[@alanhirayama4592]

Your videos always helps me, as a non-drummer, to gain additional appreciate for the instrument and artists. Thanks!

[@ronwass]

Kenny Clarke's move to the ride cymbal might be the most influential instrumental thing in all of jazz/pop/rock music history.

[@MikeWalshDrums]

I’ve always believed Tony to be the greatest as well! I’ve noticed how often Tony would be referred to as , and spoken of as , the greatest in many interviews of my favorite jazz musicians. Most of my teachers and drumming friends think of Tony as the greatest as well. To me it always seemed like Tony was broadly understood to be the undisputed greatest of all time. Yet I’ve learned that many would argue that opinion. I’ve never seen Tony listed as number 1 in any poll or list of “the greatest” until seeing your video! Thanks for putting Tony right at the top of the list where I believe he truly belongs!

[@iamALogan]

I agree, it's almost like some of them were envious. However, many drummers secretly would reveal they drooled and studied everything Tony played. The only alternative for me is Buddy Rich!

[@ronwass]

When listening to Buddy Rich, I think, "Great technique. Predictable solo. sometimes monotonous." When listening to Sonny Payne I think. "Wow, what did he do. Wow, he did that? Wow, he brought out that brass phrase is a great way, wow, etc."

[@aakkoin]

Max Roach is awesome, and he was inspiration for another awesome pioneer jazz drummer, Bill Bruford.

[@aaronhayman8558]

Bruford does a nice verson of Roach's "The Drum Also Waltzes."

[@aakkoin]

@@aaronhayman8558 He sure does, it's great. Bruford is known mostly as a rock drummer, and he himself has written alot about balancing between rock and jazz. But there's no question that in his latter career Bruford and his band Earthworks was pure, awesome, acoustic jazz. He's recorded like 20 albums with Earthworks, and not just as a drummer, but a composer and band leader. Absolute legend.

[@garysmith3173]

Papa Jo is the one for me. A lot of the new,modern young jazz drummers are fantastic. Easily as good as their predecessors.❤️❤️❤️ An excellent video Nate. Really enjoyed it thanks you.

[@simonvasey8546]

Excellent rundown of the Goats. Thanks Nate.🥁👍

[@justpeachy4938]

Great stuff, Nate, as always. Liked your categories; liked your honorable mentions. Most of all, liked your recognition that at this elevated level of musical expression, it’s difficult-to-impossible to determine a “GOAT.” Thanks for acknowledging these giants in the art of jazz drumming!

[@jonathandale-cy5hw]

You were SPOT on,my friend! I once made a list of drummers,from earliest to the latest ones,and I managed to pick out all of the same drummers,that you did. I think the only one you didn’t mention was Chick Webb. I would love to get some more access to your drum channel & its resources. Great job,btw!

[@shanevanc]

Great point...one of the first drum stars and the victor band vs band against the GREAT KRUPA. THIS WAS A MISS

[@musimages23]

connie kaye /big sid catlett/ shadow wilson/ davey tough /kaiser marshall/ art taylor

[@contraversi]

Nice video. My only complaint is that Billy Cobham and Lenny White weren’t mentioned nor the evolution that became Jazz Fusion. Any of the drummers you mentioned could be the GOAT as you mentioned it’s all subjective. My personal favorites are Jo Jones & Billy Cobham.

[@robertginsburg8113]

They were probably excluded because many don't consider Jazz fusion as Jazz because of the lack of swing. Traditionally Jazz swings.

[@toberschorr736]

I second this comment

[@broadpath7184]

Regardless of whether or not one agrees with the list or its conclusions, this was fun to watch, learn, and be reminded of the players that built this domain. Well done!

[@ClarenceP11-B]

Billy Cobham #1 on my list he's my goat of all drummers he did everything all drummers Cobham is on a totally different level check out all his CDs old and new Cobham is the man

[@robertginsburg8113]

I'm a big fan of Cobham but he wasn't really a jazz drummer. I don't think he would even claim to be one. Fusion is more accurate.

[@vbassone]

The Magnificent Seven of Jazz Drumming: Tony Williams Elvin Jones Philly Joe Jones Art Blakey Roy Haynes Kenny Clarke Max Roach If you’re number one is ANY of the names on this list it would be hard to argue. Although Jack DeJohnette should be there too of course! Done….

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

Well done. Every one has to honor Jo Jones, and the others that you mention. I wish you had mentioned Big Sid. i missd that very much. And, as any intelligent person would, you don't claim that your decision is, well, decisive. But Tony does deserve your encomium. He was very, very great. Very well done, as usual!

[@JoeL-zb1yd]

You made a great drummer documentary. You covered just about all of the people's favorites. Not many fans can feel left out. My personal favorite is Vernel Fournier. Great job covering so many terrific jazz drummers. Thank you 80/20!

[@jonashellborg8320]

Cool video. My personal favourites, that I also argue influence my rock drumming, are Gene Krupa and Max Roach. Gene for his style swung groove, Max for his hi hat sound and technique.

[@iamALogan]

MAX

[@r.austin3323]

There have been 2 criminal acts in this video. 1) Not featuring Chick Webb 2) Giving Art Balkey just an "honorable mention". He presided over one of the greatest jazz groups of all time for years. The Jazz Messengers, and his style is unmistakable and not duplicated. Also, Roy Hanes is mis-categorized with Elvin and Jack.

[@8020drummer]

@@r.austin3323 Roy’s mid-categorized as a ‘60s style catalyst?

[@HamboneWilliams]

Completely agree on Webb and Blakey. Scrolled a long time to see a Webb mention. Haynes fits in a bunch of categories.

[@jimthykeson9617]

For me it was Morello. I remember e-mailing him, telling him I stopped my drumming because I couldn't master the art of 'independent coordination'. I also suggested that great drumming had stopped since the decline of jazz. He told me, I should tried harder and practiced more and told me fear not great drumming is very much alive and well. After I discovered Hudson Music's site I realized what Joe mean't! I never knew about Dave Weckl or Simon Phillips and my passion for 'MY' music, resurfaced stronger than ever.! Thanks for this vid, as it adds to my hunger for more.

[@robertginsburg8113]

A lot of great drummers with different styles. Gotta love it. I don't have a favorite but I see why so many drummers are in awe of Tony. It's like he's driving a motorcycle at 200 mph, no helmet and decides to pull out a Snickers bar and have a few bites, then tosses the wrapper after he finishes without losing any focus and arrives on time in record time.

[@artsquillante3392]

Gotta say a name: Billy Higgins. I agree with your conclusion, and the video is very well done, but please,… Billy Higgins.

[@User-vl6xl]

It's me, but only in my practice room when no one is listening

[@duntiet]

That’s so great! This whole video I was thinking - where is Tony?!?! I always dig your content sir. Great stuff

[@cafe.cedarbeard]

I'm still rather new at this level of music history. Started as a kid with the 70's and 80's music first on the radio, then metal and prog, digging back further with each decade. I finally hit the basement in the last 10 years or so and especially in the last 6 with drum kit as central focus. Gene Krupa led the way back with research into the kit. To me he wasn't just the one who made drums popular, he worked with Ludwig and Slingerland to produce the first tunable tom toms that have been the basic drum design ever since. That said, thanks for continuing my education in music history beyond what I ever knew.

[@AndriiHoncharov-g1f]

Love how structured the video is! Thanks Nate! Inspiring as always

[@jazztoys]

Great compilation and opinion , great guide to younger generations. Well done as always Nate !

[@adrianlyord5300]

Louis Bellson ( Duke Ellington) - Stan Levy ( Charlie Parker) are two of greatest jazz drummers 🥁 as well! It’s so hard to choose one over the other when there’s so many! Great job on your video brother!

[@drumboogie2555]

Herlin Riley is my favorite! Herlin swings, swaggers, and grooves like nobody's business!

[@rodneyvandenoever]

Was about to shout 'where's Tonyyy??'. Great overview, very inspiring!

[@tylee5291]

I came out of the womb listening to Jo Jones and Sonny Payne.. literally. ALL drummers mentioned are my favorites. Buddy was my number 1 because of his solos and that freaking freak of a land hand! But as it happens, listening evolves. Yeah, soloing and technique is what gets us excited, but you have to go beyond that. Style, swing, taste, dynamics and genre. Joe Morello is a GOAT because of how he was able to take odd time signatures and make it cool and popular....worthy enough to put a record in a juke box! One of my other favorites is Grady Tate. His playing was tasty and swung hard. Listen to most of Wes Montgomery's A&M recordings THEN listen to Wes and Jimmy Smith's The Dynamic Duo album. I honestly don't think there is a GOAT because of the VAST contributions to the drumming world. Today it's Tony Williams. Tomorrow, Elvin...next day, Billy Higgins. For me, they are ALL Greatest of ALL Time! Well done!!!

[@southtxguitarist8926]

Thanks for mentioning Grady Tate. I started playing guitar in high school in the early 1970's, and in my city there were few record stores and only one radio station that had a short-lived jazz program. I found some used Wes Montgomery albums from his later period and fell in love with them, and so Tate was definitely one of my sonic models for jazz drumming. One of my all-time favorite tracks to this day is the A&M recording Wes did of Twisted Blues with a full big band and Tate on drums. Everyone just swings their asses off.

[@philipnestor5034]

All the drummers you mentioned are great. It’s like asking who is the best painter? All different styles but all innovative and contributors.

[@southtxguitarist8926]

First of all, GREAT video, in terms of content, production, and personality. I'm a new fan of your channel! I'm a pro guitarist, but I'm a HUGE fan of great jazz drummers and drumming. I've been incredibly lucky to have seen and sometimes met several of the drummers on this list - Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Tony Williams, Buddy Rich, Roy Haynes, Jack DeJonnette, Jeff Watts. I doubt anyone's going to argue over your choice for the GOAT. I'll just drop in two names you didn't mention for more modern players who rank among the very best performances I've ever seen and heard - Terri Lynn Carrington and Chris Dave, both during performances at the Dakota Jazz Club when it was in St. Paul, MN in the early 2000's.

[@toddberg4404]

This was so much fun!! Thank you. Hah!! I should have known from the image in your email that you'd be voting for Tony Williams. And thanks for all the love you gave to the real GOAT, Elvin Jones. Just sayin'! Peace, Todd Berg

[@ronwass]

Tony Williams, spectacular, beyond innovative, totally unique and groundbreaking, but, big BUT, not as influential, because he was SO good, no one can really do what he did nearly as effectively.

[@blaisee1977]

This is a great video. More than anything it made me remember how much I love this art form. I love all these dudes that came before us and I think appreciating all of them is possible. Also, Hutch is my personal goat, he was the first modern drummer I really started digging and he's the reason I now play music for a living.

[@iamALogan]

KINDRED SOULS with Roy Hargrove, Hutch is at his finest! The whole quintet is on fire with this recording . . . live!

[@eddierivera1860]

Mr.CHICK WEBB DID IT BEFORE THEM ALL. read his story!

[@crawdaddy6969]

To me Chick was the epitome of "Jazz" drummer.

[@adamr63]

Superb video, as someone who has been a fan of Jazz and jazz history since the late 60s, it's hard to find content like this that doesn't make me want to run out of the room screaming. You have a great historical and technical knowledge, contextual sense, and dare I say it, taste. I don't like Best Of discussions much as in the end it's our subjective tastes that will always edge one out over another, but I can say my favorites are Elvin Jones, Papa Jo Jones, Max Roach, Tony Wiliams, and a few who never make the lists because they are not technical monsters or famous, but they are lyrical and musical and original in a way I love : Billy Higgins, Ed Thigpen, and the criminally underrated Danny Richmond, as examples. I must say that I'm a bit disappointed Philly Joe Jones didn't make the list, his contribution is immense and he was such a tasteful and swinging cat. Baby Dodds was probably the greatest innovator, when you think about it, but there's not a lot recorded and era is so far back near the birth of the genre that his contribution is largely forgotten pr ignored.

[@robmurray2310]

I'd say it's between Tony and Papa Jo, who was a phenom. The last and the first, so to speak. Tony was a bit of a Mozart, when you hear how good he was at 17 playing on ESP. Such mature playing already. Really enjoyed the rundown :)

[@DOUBYHAMMS]

I THINK MILSBY DIXON RICH FROM THE U.K HAS GREAT INFLUENCE

[@NATAGUILARMUSIC]

The first time I heard 7 steps to heaven I was blown away.

[@callmejeffbob]

That was a great piece with some very cool footage that I've never seen before. I'm not a drummer but I'm a big fan of jazz (and jazz drummers) nonetheless. I have been privileged to have seen many of your "contenders" perform live i.e., Elvin, Jack, Tony, Max and Roy, as well as some of your "honorable mentions" (Eric Harland, Marcus Gilmore, Ben Riley, Rasheed Ali, etc.). I'm sure virtually all your viewers figured out it was going to be Tony Williams when you didn't include him with the other drummers that rose to prominence in the 1960s. I don't believe that there is a single "greatest of all time", but certainly no one is "better" or more influential than Tony Williams. Speaking of Tony Williams, two clips of Lifetime (T. Williams, J. McLaughlin, L. Young & J. Bruce) that were filmed for German TV in 1970 (but never broadcast) have recently been put on KZbin. Here's a link to one of them, which is medley of several tunes, which are incorrectly titled. Enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX_JqmaLp82nqcU Of course there are dozens of other great jazz drummers you didn't mention. I won't try to list them all; I'm sure you're familiar with them. There is one drummer in particular that I'm surprised you didn't include: Billy Cobham. He was very innovative and influential, particularly in the realm of jazz rock fusion.

[@abzulooks6012]

That's an interesting list of drummers, I really don't have much dispute with any of the opinions you've put across. One name I would suggest as the answer to a slightly different question: who was the greatest drum prodigy of all time? I would suggest Tony Williams, who was not only so amazingly innovative but was innovative from such an early age. Given he was the youngest of Miles' "Second Great Quartet" it's an absolute travesty that he's no longer with us. One thing that was a cornerstone of his musicality was not just his sense of innovation, but his musical open-mindedness, right to the end.

[@jonathanedwards8696]

My favorite is Jon Christensen. He played on more records released by the prestigious ECM Record Label than any other musician! (72). He was essentially ECM's house drummer. He was so sensitive, so musical. Who else could play a duo with an acoustic guitar player? Here's "Piscean Dance" with Ralph Towner on acoustic 12 string guitar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKjMdKSaep6Gj7s What the hell is he doing at 3 minutes and 20 seconds?

[@jonathanedwards8696]

However, you can hear Tony in my playing more than any other drummer!

[@zootallures6470]

I have seen Christensen with two Swedish musicians. On piano Lars Jansson and I don't remember the bass player :(

[@Armakk]

Really liked this one for all the historical context. Easy to know the names, but why they're important is the real juice.

[@dannorris642]

Great list! And, yes, Tony is king. He's our Michael Jordan. My personal favorite is Elvin, though. I hear something different each time I listen to his recordings. Alan Dawson needs a mention, too. He wasn't as well known as the other guys, but he did educate a good bit of them.

[@iamALogan]

Tony was the JIMI HENDRIX of Jazz drumming! Alan, Elvin, Max and The one and BUDDY RICH!

[@geraldcourson4506]

Yes, Alan was also a teacher and Tony was a student of Alan’s.

[@jonathanedwards8696]

I've been playing the drum set for over 40 years and I have a bachelor of music degree in jazz performance. Elvin STILL doesn't make any sense to me. And at least Tony Williams could groove if he wanted to.

[@brucescott4261]

​@@iamALogan ...Rich is from the swing era.

[@brucescott4261]

​@jonathanedwards8696 ...You're just another Tony Williams fanboy.

[@jonathanedwards8696]

I was fortunate enough to have taken lessons from Bob Moses. He's on the very first Pat Metheny album with Jaco. His drum set method book, "Drum Wisdom," is the best drumming book for intermediate/advanced drummers I've ever seen.

[@JavierMartinez-rz4vc]

Excellent and entertaining 🙌🏻

[@jasonshort1437]

Yep, for me, its definitely Tony

[@mpower1969]

an honorable mention for Idris Muhammad (Leo Morris), please.

[@scottstruif3939]

Great synopsis! What caused the dents in your rack tom head?

[@Bryman1970]

Great video. I definitely gravitate towards "The Revolutionaries". I've seen many of your videos about Tony and enjoyed them all. He's definitely my favorite as well. I could watch his solos for hours. There's a great podcast featured by Drum History Podcast and Paul Wells on KZbin. It goes on in depth about how young he was when he would take solo trips to NY to hang out with Max Roach. Amazing stuff.

[@mwdrum]

One of your best historical videos.

[@elliottcovert3796]

There’s something that’s always bothered me about Buddy Rich’s reputation: I don’t deny his talent as a drummer but I don’t think he was a great musician or artist. Not even close. Buddy was interested in being the star of the show but as far as I can tell had no interest in making great music, because that would have required him to swallow his ego. He was content to have a big band in Las Vegas and didn’t care if he never played on a great record. I cannot name a single significant jazz song (much less album) featuring Buddy Rich. By contrast, Max Roach and Jimmy Cobb (who probably isn’t in too many top 10 lists and never made anyone say “wow!”) played on an almost unbelievable number of significant recordings. This probably isn’t relevant to the question of who is the GOAT, but it’s a perspective I wanted to share.

[@larrytemple86]

I REMEMBER A DRUMMER BY THE NAME OF JONATHAN TOLD ME BACK IN 1995 THAT BUDDY RICH WAS BORN TO BE A TECHNICIAN WHICH BEARS TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ❓️👍👀

[@southtxguitarist8926]

I humbly agree with you about Rich, though I will say he recorded with some of the greats and didn't hog the show. He could do it. I only saw him once, in the late 1970's at a club called Mancini's in McKees Rocks, PA (part of Pittsburgh). He insulted the audience and fired his bassist on the gig in front of everyone, saying "this is your last night." I've seldom seen anyone look so immediately crushed as that bassist did that night. No one is so important that he or she should humiliate anyone like that, especially publicly. I was never a big fan of Rich's playing before that, but afterwards I added "despicable person" to his list of traits.

[@elliottcovert3796]

@@southtxguitarist8926 I always got the impression that Rich was insufferably arrogant and a complete tyrant to anyone unlucky enough to work for him. But I'm trying to judge his career objectively without letting my feelings about his personality sway that assessment. He was a dazzling technician who as far as I can tell had little interest in making great music.

[@southtxguitarist8926]

@@elliottcovert3796 Yes, I do agree with that your way to assess his legacy, and agree that he mostly failed in that regard. I got into jazz in my teens in the early 1970's, and a couple of years later had a band with some high school kids who were all into big band stuff because they played in one at school. Buddy Rich was a big favorite, and our drummer lent me a copy of Live At Buddy's Place as proof he could play in small groups and kick ass. I have a copy of that on my computer and it's actually proof of how overbearing and insensitive he was playing with his own groups. I've also heard saxophonist Bob Mintzer talking about the challenge of writing for Buddy's big band, because he would copy and play all the rhythms of the horn section in unison with them, which of course made them sound redundant and top heavy. Mintzer also disputed that Buddy could hear an arrangement once and memorize it. Over, NOT the greatest for a number of reasons, though he certainly was fast and showy.

[@shanevanc]

Nice to have company in my opinion. Flash and music are not the same. Give Roach or KRUPA every time. Notice also when Krupa had his own band, other people like Roy Haynes and Anita O'Day got to share the limelight. Also I think Rich is partly responsible via Ginger Baker, for the 70's trend of 10 minute solos from guitar and drums.

[@mindjob]

Thanks for the in depth analysis

[@BrianH020]

Nate, I did enjoy the video. Goes without saying, you could have probably done a 12-hour video and still not have covered all the potential GOATS. Certainly knew something was up when you didn't mention Tony initially, and you certainly can't go wrong with him at the top of your list. Enjoyed it as always... 👍😗

[@drummersagainstitk]

Side note as drummer player, teacher, freaking fanatic THAT SAW EVERYONE LIVE FOR 57YRS..... YES Tony is king But THE greatest jazz drummer I ever saw was TED HAWK R.I.P. from LA. If anyone here remembers him please say amen. He was a freakishly great jazz drummer.

[@juansecar2]

M.r Tony Williams, mr Max Roach, mr Art Blakey, mr Elvin Jones, and mr Brian Blade

[@Gabe-r7k]

I don’t necessarily categorize GOATs in music but my favorites that I always come back to is Roy and Tony.

[@wolfjr1717]

Tony is my No. 2. Elvin is No. 1 in my book.

[@wattanapontunsaringkran6640]

I was so anxious that you weren’t putting Brian Blade up for GOAT consideration. Thank goodness he came in at the end.

[@MrRoderickkohn]

Very well done young man!!!! I took the rider with you and i have to say i agree with everyone you brought up but was thinking, as we all were, "Where's Tony???" And you my friend did not disappoint!!!! One personal favorite and often over looked but obviously was loved by Miles is Al Foster. Just had to bring that one up. Maybe not on the GOAT list but quite a formidable contender and worthy of an honorable mention. By the way, not a drummer, but i'm a guitar player who loves a great drummer.

[@howardrussell3919]

Too easy; a toss up between Max Roach and Art Blakey. I know personally because I saw them both in concert. Max when he was married to Abby Lincoln at a place called "The Aqua Lounge" on 52nd street in West Philly. That was in the 60's. I also saw Blakey at "The Showboat" in South Philly around the same time frame. Years later, I saw Blakey in Chicago at "The Jazz Showcase " which was then in the Blackstone hotel downtown. Max's work with Clifford Brown, are you kidding me? Max and Blakey are it for me....!!

[@oobie3049]

Perhaps controversial, but my number one drummer is Rashied Ali. He was an insanely innovative and - dare I say - aggressive drummer. No wonder Coltrane preferred having him in his group. Elvin Jones was amazing too. One name everyone tends to forget is the guy that taught Tony Williams. That's Alan Dawson. I always say that the era of Morello playing in Brubeck's group is incredible, but the pairing of Alan Dawson on drums and Jack Six on bass is just perfect for the more "out there" side of Brubeck.

[@ShivasIrons22]

Enjoyed the video. Very well done. Williams would be my pick. I think Blakey deserved more than a hat tip. I guess you wouldn't consider Billy Cobham a jazz drummer? He's right there with Willams for me.

[@alankirkby465]

Max Roach : Solo on Sonny Rollins, Album Saxophone Colossus, ( appx, 1956 )Track : Blue Seven. Anyway, Peace to all.

[@misfit2022]

For the ridiculously enjoyable solo on Take Five Joe Morello and although more jazz fusion I have to give a mention to Billy Cobham now in his eighties and for looking the happiest behind a set of drums whilst playing some great stuff Papa Joe Jones. I was watching an old Sinatra film recently which brings Shelly Manne to mind but tomorrow I could be listening to Lenny White, Steve Smith, Vinnie C or Steve Gadd and change my mind again and Chick Corea was mentioned in the video which brings to mind Dave Weckl who when younger won every drumming accolade going.

[@thedoctoronelove]

Louis Bellson

[@8020drummer]

forgot louie! He was a chop monster as well! I remember seeing him blow everybody off the stage at a jazz festival in the late '90s, when louis must have been in his '70s. chops for days

[@justpeachy4938]

Yes! Nice catch. Just watched a Tonight Show clip from 1969 where Belsen and Buddy Rich traded 8’s-and then some!-and Louie more than held his own with Rich. The sound is rough, but check it out if you haven’t seen it.

[@tzmkira002]

It was in 1937-38 when Kenny Clarke when on tour in Europe with Edgar Hayes that he finally had the freedom to really develop his bepop style. He said this in an oral history program

[@MichaelSoucy]

Certainly a good faith effort. I was a bit disappointed that Ralph Peterson didn't get a mention. But so many, and so little time...

[@aaronhayman8558]

Nice show and you make a very good case for Tony Williams as GOAT, in particular becuase he made such a mark in both swinging jazz type drumming and more rock oriented fusion. One could say pretty much the same about Jack DeJohnette though, who also is maybe the most recorded jazz drummer ever. I worked at a record store in the early 90s, and chances were good that any CD one randomly picked up from that time, and few decades earlier, you would find him on drums. And he's also a very good composer (I might rate him a bit better than TW for that). I would argue that a couple of lesser known names are some of the most amazing as far as raw skill and advanced concepts go. I'd put Alan Dawson (a clip with him trading fours with Sonny Rollins is the single most impressive drumming clip I know of on KZbin). And then there's Ralph Peterson who I was lucky to see live a few times and was as awe inspiring as anyone I've seen and I've seen quite a few of the greats (and was a very good composer as well) For contempray folks, I'd give the nod to Brian Blade as his style is so recognizable, and he exploits the dynamic potential of the drum kit more than about anyone else. He is both the most subtle and the most explosive drummer out there. Though I can think of a few others who I like better as far as timekeeping, I feel that no one has topped Max Roach as far as soloing goes. His solos were the most coherent, most melodic of any that I've heard...

[@jorymil]

It's really hard to say "best," but Tony certainly was great. Lots of people missing from the video: Billy Higgins, Lewis Nash, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Victor Lewis, Louis Hayes, Airto Moreira, Alphonse Mouzon, Billy Cobham, Peter Erskine, Donald Bailey, Mark Guiliana, Chris Dave, Billy Kilson, Nate Smith, Antonio Sanchez, Rudy Royston. Obviously all of the players mentioned in the video are worthy!

[@zootallures6470]

I am 'floating' with Elvin Jones and Roy Haynes.

[@paulprescott147]

Best jazz drummer of all time is...the one who doesn't play a solo 😂 Only joking. Nice video and great summary of some great musicians. Jimmy Cobb is my fav. But only because he was the drummer on the greatest musical masterpiece ever recorded.

[@aaronKroeker]

Can’t argue with the great assessment made here, but Brian Blade will always be my goat. 🐐

[@rillloudmother]

Tony Williams, period end of paragraph.

[@paulcanton9827]

No one changed what was considered possible on the drums more than Buddy Rich. Completely redefining the kit as a solo instrument. Best jazz drummer……depends on which type of jazz…..but Tony Williams is a strong call.

[@RenoConley]

Philly Joe gets no love???? Y’all are tripped out. Style, taste, dynamics and touch= flavor.

[@8020drummer]

@@RenoConley what? Did you even watch?

[@ishaq24722]

Most polls say Art Blakey...and Buddy Rick next.

[@DOUBYHAMMS]

HAL BLAINE

[@flame-sky7148]

I agree with the Tony Williams crown, and I thought a guy who could have been mentioned in the video was Billy Cobham.

[@marcosdepaula3593]

Honorable mentions: Airto Moreita and Lenny White for the fusion contributions. I would say

[@davidwicks9538]

Great list of Jazz Percussion Craftsmen!! My initial thought was to offer a Nazty comment before the video got to "Tony Williams", @ the END...Great Save!! IMO, there's a difference between "BEST"/GOAT "JAZZ" Drummer {Support Musician, small Group} & 'Jazz' Drum Soloist, or, BIG BAND Drummer... There're 'ALL' incredible, BUT; EveryOne after ~1965 Repeats "Elvin" & "Tony" 'licks' Infinitum, with Tony Williams hip licks and PLACEMENT being most imitated!! Elvin JONES', John Bonham Triplets being second!!

[@philbowden]

Hmm..pretty well done…and I would agree with your conclusion

[@dhmtbr2551]

There is no best, only different. Tony 🙌🏻

[@alexandremainville5139]

Great video Nate ! I'm maybe inclined to say that my favorite might be Elvin Jones, I love post bop and tjose triplets he plays

[@AmrddH]

Called it 😅 great overview! definitely too many greats to name without missing a lot or going into subcategories. papa jo is def my guy tho

[@normalizedaudio2481]

I vote for Elvin.

[@patnaughtin4563]

I go with, who Duke Ellington said was the Best, and that was Louie Bellson!!

[@dherz108]

Great overview. Re: Tony...why no mention of Alan Dawson?

[@fernandesfernandes5997]

Dave Weckl . Ele é um dos mais longevos , mais sofisticados , mais ecléticos , tocava com peso e força , leveza e detalhes , muitos tipos de kits , criativo , elegante . Dennis Chambvers também é um grande no jazz e jazz rock