For all the drum teachers out there who offer private lessons to students of all ages and abilities, here is a resource you can use with your students when they ask about a genre of music that maybe is not your expertise, but that you can certainly help them with if given the right direction. As most of us know, there is an unlimited number of bands, and therefore we can only follow a certain amount at any given time. I compiled this list after having several moments where I didn't quite know where to take a student based on what their interests were.
When teaching a student metal drumming, which I have a finite knowledge of, I would sort of scramble to find something interesting and that had strong musical content for me to draw lesson material from. It wasn't necessarily the best choice, and so to make sure I always had the best choice of drummer for the occasion, I began researching and making lists of drummers for each genre.
I would also note several key albums, so the next time a student asks who the best blast-drummer is, I would know which drummer for them to check out, as well as some key albums that highlight their drumming.
These are by no means definitive lists, and I am open to suggestions, put comment in the comment section, or send me an email.
If you think this is a good resource for other teachers then please share!
1. Neil Peart
Best known as the drummer of prog-rock band Rush, Neil Peart is considered one of the most influential rock drummers of all time.
Recommended Albums:
2. John Bonham
Drummer for the British rock band Led Zeppelin, there might not be a single rock drummer on the planet who doesn't site "Bonzo" as an influence on the instrument. His unique style and sound have given Led Zeppelin an instantly recognizable sound.
Recommended Albums:
3. Dave Grohl
Drummer for Nirvana and has also worked with Queens of the Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails.
Recommended Albums:
Songs for the Deaf (Queens of the Stone Age)
4. Todd Sucherman
Best known for having been a member of Styx since March 1995.
Recommended Albums:
5. Jon Theodore
The original drummer of the Mars Volta, and current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age.
Recommended Albums:
Deloused in the Comatorium (The Mars Volta)
Frances the Mute (The Mars Volta)
1. Bill Bruford
Drummer for King Crimson, Yes, Gong, and bandleader of Earthworks. Bill Bruford was a pioneer in world of progressive drumming.
Recommended Albums:
2. Matt Garstka
One of the great young drummers of the genre, Matt Garstka pushes the boundaries of progressive music. He is best known as the drummer for Animals As Leaders.
Recommended Albums:
The Madness of Many (Animals As Leaders)
Live 2017 (Animals As Leaders)
3. Jojo Mayer
Virtuoso Austrian drummer who was one of the main proponents of progressive electro-drumming.
Recommended Albums:
The Distance Between Zero and One (NERVE)
4. Vinnie Colaiuta
An inductee of the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, Vinnie Colaiuta is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time.
Recommended Albums:
Vinnie Colaiuta (Vinnie Colaiuta)
5. Mike Portnoy
Ex-Dream Theater and inductee into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.
Recommended Albums:
Systematic Chaos (Dream Theater)
Scenes from a Memory (Dream Theater)
One of the most recorded drummers in history. Has made his mark in several different genres.
1. Steve Gadd
Recommended Albums:
2. Jeff Porcaro
First call session drummer in the 80s who had a knack for creating unique grooves that influenced the future generations.
Recommended Albums:
3. Bernard Purdie
Studio legend and inventor of the infamous "Pretty Purdie Shuffle"
Recommended Albums:
Young, Gifted and Black (Aretha Franklin)
Live at the Fillmore West (Aretha Franklin)
Claiming over 35,000 recording sessions and 6,000 singles, Hal Blaine's drumming is featured on 150 US top 10 hits, 40 of which went to number one.
Recommended Albums:
Leisure Time (Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars)
One of L.A.'s busiest studio drummers since the 1960s.
Recommended Albums:
The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 (The Traveling Wilburys)
His ability to record entire drum tracks in one or two takes earned him the nickname "One Take".
Recommended Albums:
Black Seeds of Vengeance (Nile)
Known for his work with the group Tool.
Recommended Albums:
A highly-influential drummer known for his creative use of double-pedals.
Recommended Albums:
Dark Roots of Earth (Testament)
Individual Thought Patterns (Death)
4. Joey Jordison
Best known for his work with Slipknot, and is considered one of most influential metal drummers of all-time.
Recommended Albums:
The All-Star Sessions (Roadrunner United)
5. Tomas Haake
Drummer and principal songwriter for metal superband Meshuggah. As been named Best Metal Drummer by Modern Drummer Magazine.
Recommended Albums:
The Violent Sleep of Reason (Meshuggah)
1. Elvin Jones
Recommended Albums:
A Love Supreme (John Coltrane)
My Favorite Things (John Coltrane)
Puttin' It Together (Elvin Jones)
2. Max Roach
Recommended Albums:
Study In Brown (Clifford Brown & Max Roach)
3. Tony Williams
Recommended Albums:
Empyrean Isles (Herbie Hancock)
4. Papa Jo Jones
Recommended Albums:
Count Basie at Newport (Count Basie)
The Essential Jo Jones (Papa Jo Jones)
5. Buddy Rich
Recommended Albums:
Big Swing Face (Buddy Rich Big Band)
The Drum Battle (B. Rich, G. Krupa)
Lester Young Trio (Lester Young)
1. Eric Harland
Recommended Albums:
Invisible Cinema (Aaron Parks)
2. Ari Hoenig
Recommended Albums:
Bert’s Playground (Ari Hoenig)
Jazz Side of the Moon: Music of Pink Floyd
3. Nate Smith
Recommended Albums:
4. Brian Blade
Recommended Albums:
Trilogy (Chick Corea, Christian McBride, B. Blade)
Footprints Live! (Wayne Shorter)
5. Mark Guiliana
Recommended Albums:
Mehliana (M. Guiliana, Brad Mehldau)
1. Clyde Stubblefied
Recommended Albums:
In the Jungle Groove (James Brown)
I Got the Feelin’ (James Brown)
The Original Funky Drummer Breakbeat Album
2. Mike Clark
Recommended Albums:
The Funk Stops Here (Mike Clark & Paul Jackson)
3. Zigaboo Modeliste
Recommended Albums:
I’m on the Right Track (Zigaboo Modeliste)
4. Stanton Moore
Recommended Albums:
Flyin’ the Koop (Stanton Moore)
All Kooked Out (Stanton Moore)
The Other Side of Midnight (Galactic)
5. David Garibaldi
Recommended Albums:
Back to Oakland (Tower of Power)
East Bay Grease (Tower of Power)
Soul Vaccination (Tower of Power)
1. Chris Dave
Recommended Albums:
Double Booked (Robert Glasper)
2. Steve Jordan
Recommended Albums:
Made In America (Blues Brothers)
3. Adam Deitch
Recommended Albums:
4. Karreem Riggins
Recommended Albums:
The Evolution of Oneself (Orrin Evans)
Emily’s D+Evolution (Esperanza Spalding)
5. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Recommended Albums:
1. Dafnis Prieto
Recommended Albums:
About the Monks (Dafnis Prieto)
Absolute Quintet (Dafnis Prieto)
Taking the Soul for a Walk (Dafnis Prieto)
2. Ignacio Berroa
Recommended Albums:
Heritage and Passion (Ignacio Berroa)
3. Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez
Recommended Albums:
El Negro and Robby at The Third World War (H. Hernandez, R. Ameen)
4. Airto Moreira
Recommended Albums:
Live at the Fillmore East (Miles Davis)
Weather Report (Weather Report)
5. Trilok Gurtu
Recommended Albums:
1. Terry Bozzio
Recommended Albums:
2. Ari Hoenig
Recommended Albums:
3. Dan Weiss
Recommended Albums:
4. Nate Smith
Recommended Album:
5. Billy Martin
Recommended Album
illy B Eats Vol.1 Groove Bang and Jive Around