Why I don't hear bass drums on Jazz LPs?

Too bad about Cobb. I heard him perform in person maybe 10 years ago. Or so it seems.

When you mention Jimmy Cobb the description of “tasty” always comes up…. Try his incredible work on the Wes Montgomery album Boss Guitar….so flippin’ tasty

@mijostyn: Webb’s bass drum may have been 28" in diameter, which was typical at the time. Or it may have been even 32", a common size of marching band bass drums. The drummers of the 1920’s put together their own sets, not buying them already assembled and marketed by the drum companies. The first bass drums were just converted from those used in parade marching bands, and it was Ludwig’s invention of the bass drum pedal in the late-1920’s that allowed a single drummer to play all the percussion instruments (bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and assorted sound effects) in orchestras.

wolf_garcia is of course correct: The proclamation made by @russbutton is pure fantasy. Where do people get their mistaken ideas? In my story of recording above, the engineer used one mic (an Electrovoice RE20, pretty much THE standard for bass drums in studios, and my personal favorite) on the bass drum (double headed, with minimal damping), and just two overheads in stereo. No separate mics on the snare drum and the two toms (mounted and floor), a style of micing which makes the drummer responsible for producing a balance in the sound of the drum set. If you want the snare drum or toms louder, you hit them harder.😉 The drums were 1950’s WFL’s (the name Ludwig was using at the time), the lone cymbal a Turkish K. Zildjian (popular with Jazz drummers in the 40s, 50’s, and 60’s. In fact still are.).

Another monster Jazz drummer not yet mentioned is Elvin Jones.

Also Philly Joe Jones.

Connie Kay? And how can we forget Art Blakey?

A good YouTube channel to watch is that of Ken Micallef. He's a Stereophile equipment reviewer, but has also written pieces for several of the drum magazines. He moved to NYC years ago to pursue a career as a drummer, but eventually decided he, as he put it in one video, "didn't have what it takes" (I paraphrase).

His videos are largely devoted to reviewing Jazz LP's, and discusses all the musicians in depth, including of course drummers. He REALLY knows his stuff.