Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) by AAL2014

Here's a fun chart idea I came up with.. Modern Drummer Magazine, the same mag I've been subscribed to and thumbing through for almost 5 years, published a list of the 50 Greatest Drummers of all time voted by the readers back in 2014. I love lists and this was a very poignant list at the time for me. Of course with any list, there will be omissions. Everyone on this list is a very special and influential player so it's tough to say who should be on instead.

This chart is ordered the exact way the drummers were voted. The albums chosen are ones I think of as being the best (or one of the best) works by the artist, and the comments on each are my own. Drums have been an enormous part of my life for almost 10 years. I wouldn't be apart of this website without the drums choosing me to be apart of a spectacular rhythmic journey.

Here is my tribute to the drums, the greatest drummers, and the greatest drum magazine on the planet.

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Collector's summary (filtered)Log in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from the 1950s. (Remove this filter)

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Buy album United States
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MAX ROACH

The Legend: The Drum Also Waltzes, Max Does Too. To hear Max Roach play is to experience the drums as a moving, breathing, entity. Not to mention he was one of the first to reach that level on the modern drum kit. Max did so much for the drums as a historical figure, from providing a certain feel that still cannot be duplicated, a vibe of cool comparable to that of Miles Davis, and chops and dexterity that inspired everyone from Buddy Rich and Tony Williams, to Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland. If you play the drums, you owe more than you know to Max. He revolutionized the rhythmic world.

The Album: According to my account here, Jazz at Massey Hall is the oldest album I've listened to and the oldest album I own. It still plays like it was recorded months ago. That ensemble of musicians were on fire the night of this recording, Max being no exception. There is a life to this album and these songs, in large part providing by Max's swing that helped open me up to Jazz as a whole. Salt Peanuts is fun, A Night In Tunisia is a classic, this record is as good as it is important.
[First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1956
Appears in:
Rank Score:
586
Rank in 1956:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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PAPA JO JONES [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1958
Appears in:
Rank in 1958:
None
Rank in 1950s:
None
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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PHILLY JOE JONES [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1958
Appears in:
Rank Score:
575
Rank in 1958:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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JOE MORELLO [First added to this chart: 08/24/2016]
Year of Release:
1959
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,618
Rank in 1959:
Rank in 1950s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 4. Page 1 of 1

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Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 4 8%
1960s 8 16%
1970s 14 28%
1980s 12 24%
1990s 3 6%
2000s 8 16%
2010s 1 2%
2020s 0 0%
Artist Albums %


Frank Zappa 2 4%
Dream Theater 2 4%
Niacin 1 2%
Steely Dan 1 2%
Weather Report 1 2%
King Crimson 1 2%
Miles Davis 1 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 32 64%
United Kingdom 10 20%
Mixed Nationality 4 8%
Jamaica 1 2%
Nigeria 1 2%
Sweden 1 2%
Canada 1 2%
Compilation? Albums %
No 46 92%
Yes 4 8%
Live? Albums %
No 48 96%
Yes 2 4%

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Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) ratings

Average Rating: 
87/100 (from 2 votes)
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06/15/2017 01:45 bobbyb5  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 72890/100
  
100/100
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10/01/2016 12:41 mostlymor  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 4689/100

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Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) comments

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From 06/15/2017 06:54
Thank you Bobby. I appreciate that, I still have some work to go on this chart with comments and I still have a couple of these drummers to listen to so I can provide an honest comment on why they were voted onto this list. So hopefully you'll revisit later haha.


Karen Carpenter was indeed a great drummer. Unique player who had a lot of personality and made it come through in her playing. I haven't listened to a ton of the Carpenters' music however I've seen a number of awesome solo videos from her on YouTube. Pretty great snare chops.
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90/100
From 06/15/2017 01:49
That was very informative to someone like me who really doent shit about music. Heh heh. I like it. Ive heard people i know who play drums say that Karen Carpenter was actually a good drummer. Is that true? I thought they were joking but they weren't. Lol
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From 10/01/2016 12:42
Excellent chart, enjoyed your comments particularly.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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