Great Blues Drummers

[Ken Horn]

Rabrrrrrr over at DemocraticUnderground.com asks: "How come we never hear about great Blues drummers?....We hear about great jazz drummers, and great rock drummers. But never blues drummers.

Is it because the blues tends to have such a simple kind of background groove that there's no room for a brilliant drummer?"

While I agree that there is little discourse on great blues drummers, and I believe that generally the "less is more" model works best for blues drummers, I strongly disagree the groove is so "simple...[as to leave].. no room for a brilliant drummer" - one need only observe Lee Thompson perform a tune or two, or listen closely to Ginger Baker's "Stormy Monday" groove on the Royal Albert Hall-London CD to know there is nothing simple about laying down a good blues groove.

But what are YOUR thoughts? Who ARE the great blues drummers?

[Pete Bradt]

Best blues drummer in the nation lives in Nashville, name is Lynn Williams. He plays with Delbert McClinton.

[Lee Thompson]

Wow, how did I miss this post for a month? First of all, to be mentioned in the same post as Ginger made my week. Thank you Ken!


In the golden age of blues (and today) no one really cared about the drummer as long as he could keep time, and show up. All that mattered was the guy (or girl) out front. Drummers know this, and accept it as gospel. We are just happy to be working...hopefully with a killer bass player.

[Kennan]

This did kind of come in under the Radar, didn't it?

Well, we found it now! I have to go with the great Sam Lay. His career started in Chicago in the 50's, and he played with everybody. Everybody. Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon...

He was the drummer on the "Fathers and Sons" sessions. He played with the Paul Butterfield Band. When Dylan went electric at Newport, Sam Lay was on drums! Sam was more than just a witness to history; he helped make history.

A couple of years ago, I had the good fortune to meet and hang with Sam at a three day festival, and he's a gracious man with a quick smile and a lot of music still in him.

http://www.chamberblues.com/ssb_bio_sam.html

[Lee Thompson]

As far as the "fathers" go, I did a live radio broadcast a couple of years ago with J.C. Smith. The late great Francis Clay showed up and sat in for a couple of tunes with J.C. , Ron Thompson, and the band. Francis was well into his 80's but still sharp as a tack. He looked at the drum kit in the studio, looked at me and said "I'm left handed". I replied "so am I, I just play right handed"...after a few seconds I realized he wanted me to change the kit around for him, which I gladly did. I then sat there in awe watching "muddy's" drummer work.

As far as the "new breed" I like J.J. Johnsons stuff.

[Gino Baronelli]

I agree with Francis Clay. I had the honor and priveledge of working with him a few times over the years and we were very good friends. It takes a certain capture and understanding of the music to be a good blues drummer. Heart, soul, whatever you call it; Francis had it and broke alotta ground with it. He is sorely missed. We have a very good blues drummer here in the Bay Area - June Corr (Charlie Musselwhite, among many others). Watch him play sometime and you'll understand. There are quite a few locals that are noteworthy; Donny Kountz, Robbie Bean, etc.

[Kennan]

I've also found, as a bass player, that while most great blues drummers can easily play other styles, not all drummers are good blues players. Rock drummers often seem to have trouble with that little 'behind the beat' groove.

[LARRY BARRON]

John Bonham

[bob Manning]

Larry: Your right about John Bonham being a great Blues and (anything else Drummer) The other Drummers mentioned I wouldn!t mention in the same breath. I!ve listen to all of them. John Bonham and I do simular licks, polly rhythems, cut time, accents and a smooth roll. (Check out my Drum solo on my site). John is one of the greatest along with Buddy Rich ect. Blues rhythems comes easy to a very good drummers on up because they take time to learn other rhythems. Like Jazz, Funk, Soul, Latin, Rock, Marching ect. and infuse these rhythems in any style of music your playing. My moto is either you got it or you don!t. You will know it the minute you pick up the sticks (if your a want a be,) (Or the real Deal.) Bob Manning (Drummer) of THE NEW FENDERMEN -PS- I never took a drum lession in my life. All natural

[antar blue]

Recently I had an ad on Craigie list for a blues drummer. I got many, many replies. I would talk to drummers on the phone. I would ask "Who's yer favorite bluyes drummer/" Most of the time they couldn't name a blues drummer! Most of the time they couldn't name any drummer! (what about Ringo?Charlie Watts?[who?]) Many said their favorite blues drummer was the guy in Led Zeppelin (what's his name?) WTF? A few mentioned the guy in Double Trouble. I'm not a drummer but I know I like the late Sonny Freeman (long-time BB King drummer) and the late Freddie Below. ;-) Cheers

[Alla Marinow]

Hey how about Bernard Purdie. Incredible! And stepping into the current music scene -has anyone heard Carter Beauford (of the Dave Mathews Band) play blues, jazz. Both he and Purdie literally float on the drums. Two of the best in my humble opinion. When Carter Beauford and Victor Wooton (bass) jam it is simply Awesome. .
I often watch amateur drummers play blues - in the Bay area mostly and some in LA ( I can tell instantly that they are rock drummers). Really busy, busy on the drums. The old Blues sounds so perfect with minimum fills- accent on the stuff that 'really needs' to be accented.
The one exception that I saw recently was the drummer -'Billy Lewis" playing with Roy Rogers (slide guitarist). He and Roy were one. I couldn't get my eyes off the drummer -he moved to every nuance of the guitar - he played those drums like Roy played the guitar. It was breathtaking.
But generally I get the distinct impression that many blues drummers are trying really hard to compete with the current fixation of popular 'rock drummers.'
As Johnny Nitro (Bay area Bluesman) once said to me - "when you are playing blues and want to do a 'fill' resist. Then resist a second time. When you can't stand it - then it means a fill needs to be done.
Cheers!

[Ken Horn]

I DO like Carter Beauford-definitely one of my favorite contemporary drummers. I'll pay more attention to Roy Rogers tracks going forward and look and listen for Billy Lewis - but one probably has to experience a live performance to really appreciate the fusion of guitarist and drummer.

[Lee Thompson]

You don't have to look very far to hear Billy Lewis. He worked for Tommy Castro for many years. After Shad Harris, and before Chris Sandoval. My favorite recording is Tommy Castro's live at the Fillmore. Billy is on fire through the entire CD.

Happy listening !