lp, you are absolutely right. Phil Collins in early GENESIS... just sublime. Watch the Belgian TV program from March 1972 and that basic drum kit... all those dozens cans and symbals with Peart and Portnoy etc. are unnecessary really and just for showing off. His drumming is most fluid and musical not to mention creative second to none. Actually he was the only pro in the band and is the foundation for the classic GENESIS sound. Later in 70´s he learned to play jazz w/ Brand X.
Jon Hiseman, Bill Bruford and Carl Palmer come very close but are more jazz than rock really. Mitch Mitchell is too and his work w/ Hendrix is quite magical. Vesa Aaltonen in Tasavallan Presidentti is superb as well, and so is Pierluigi Calderoni in Banco. And Giancarlo Golzi in Museo Rosenbach RIP
Corky Laing, Lee Kerslake, Bill Ward and Iain Clark (Cressida, Uriah Heep) and Ted McKenna (Alex Harvey, MSG). Phil Ehart and Moon the Loon of course ; ^)
