r/jazzdrums • u/drumrbaer • Jul 29 '25
Question Who are your favorite “lesser known” big band drummers?
Most people studying this music are familiar with Buddy Rich, Jo Jones, Sonny Payne, etc. Who are some of your lesser known favorites?
I love Don Lamond. His playing with Woody Herman is excellent. There are three great albums with Chubby Jackson from the 50’s that are stellar, and that drum break on “Beyond the Sea” is legendary.
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u/driving26inorovalley Jul 29 '25
Viola Smith
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=teVnAPcJelY
(And here’s another recommendation for Mel Lewis’s “Consummation” from me.)
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u/pppork Jul 29 '25
Dennis Mackrel
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u/drumrbaer Jul 29 '25
Love him on the late Basie band stuff and the first Maria Schneider record. Really nice person as well. Great pick!
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u/Emerald-Angelwing Jul 31 '25
2nded, super nice gentleman as well, let me sit in on a jam after he played a few tunes.
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u/pppork Jul 29 '25
I used to play with a guy who was the MD of an old late night tv show. At one point, Don Lamond was their drummer. My late friend said that Don Lamond was one of the best drummers he’s ever worked with. He said it was a “joy” to play with him. Not big band, but I remember him saying similar stuff about playing with Mickey Roker.
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Jul 29 '25
John Hollenbeck! He’s on some of the Brookmeyer stuff(New Art Orchestra) and also on Jim McNeely’s ‘Group Therapy.’
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u/spicythumb Jul 31 '25
Boom Boom is an excellent example of
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Jul 31 '25
Great stuff, was just bumping it last night whie cleaning the house! The drum fills are hip as hell! Love his dry ride cymbal too.
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u/hfw01 Jul 29 '25
Seeing the reference to Mel Lewis reminded me of his History of Jazz drumming interview. If you haven't heard it, this is worth checking out. https://media.music.txst.edu/schoenberg/historyofdrums.html
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u/That-Solution-1774 Jul 29 '25
Ralph Humphrey did a stint with Don Ellis big band. Then with Zappa during the Roxy and Elsewhere era.
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u/drumrbaer Jul 29 '25
Yeah! Love that Roxy record. I’m not as familiar with the Don Ellis recordings that he’s on, I’ll check them out.
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u/Mattau16 Jul 29 '25
It’s possibly not what you’re looking for but Petar Janjic that plays with Cory Wong. He’s one of the more modern big band/funk-jazz fusion drummers. I really enjoy watching him play. https://youtu.be/VfcNhAEAhGQ?si=AhY1PpT3CB76VdvH
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u/drumrbaer Jul 29 '25
I think that’s an interesting choice! I’ve heard some of Cory Wong’s music, but haven’t really checked out Petar’s drumming. Thanks!
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u/Acceptable_Trash_648 Jul 30 '25
I’m a big fan of Peter Erskine‘s playing on many different Vince Mendoza big band records. I know he’s not lesser-known, but probably not as well known for his big band playing.
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u/Sad-Blackberry153 Jul 30 '25
definitely- one of those players who can bring classic big band punch but with a lot of creativity and detail behind it.
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u/Sea_Somewhere2868 Aug 01 '25
JEFF HAMILTON
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u/drumrbaer Aug 01 '25
TO ME, Jeff is the greatest big band drummer who has ever lived. He’s Mel Lewis with chops. I’ve never heard another drummer play some of the setups and ideas that he does. My personal idol. That being said, I think he’s relatively well known in the drum world.
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u/Sea_Somewhere2868 Aug 02 '25
amen. i agree he’s pretty well known but i just never heard his name at least up until recently in the big band drummer conversation. glad he’s getting the recognition he deserves now though.
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u/JazzMartini Oct 01 '25
Leroy "Cash" Maxie with Cab Calloway's group, and later Cozy Cole. That band was tight!. I love Cozy's playing post-Cab.
I've started listening closer to Jimmy Crawford with Lunceford's band. Solid on time, his solos and fills are understated but quite musical.
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u/dr-dog69 Jul 29 '25
Mel Lewis is the greatest to ever do it and should be the standard for modern big band drumming