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Greatest rhythm sections

The rhythm section in a jazz, blues or rock band provides the foundation and motive force for the entire ensemble. The truly great ones not only establish the band's sonic signature, they can generate new styles. Which rhythm sections do you think have been the most influential in their respective genres, and, or changed the way you listened to music? Please try to limit your selections to groups and not individual musicians as it the ensemble sound I'd like to get your comments on.
siliab
rockadanny
1,226 posts
 
McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison...with Coltrane
+1
frogman
7,480 posts
 
A couple not already mentioned:

- Another vote for Herbie Hancock, but this time with the original "Headhunters" band; killer!
- Bill Evans/Scott Lafaro/Paul Motian

- just about any of the bands fronted by Hector Lavoe



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biketony
93 posts
 
Not jazz or rock, but a great rhythm section. The Fania All-Stars. They were considered some of the best Latin Music performers in the world at the time. The original lineup consisted of: Band Leaders; Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, Willie Colon, Larry Harlow, Monguito, Johnny Pacheco, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby Valentin, Other Musicians; La La, Ray Maldonado, Ralph Marzan, Orestes Vilato, Roberto Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, Barry Rogers, and Special Guests; Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ricardo Ray and Jummy Sabater.
dragunski
113 posts
 
@bdp24

In jazz bands, the guitarist is part of the "rhythm section", especially when he's playing chords. In rock, it's a little different, but not that much. A guitar player can, and many times does, form a essential part of the rhythm if he's not too much of a showoff.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,999 posts
 

@dragunski , you are quite right. The same can be said about the guitarists role in Jump Blues bands, one of which I worked in during the mid-70’s. I love focusing on the guitarist in such bands, as they play lots of passing chords, often with beautiful clean tone on really great arch-top guitars---old single-pickup Gibsons are especially sweet.

In rock, guys like Clapton, Beck, Page, Hendrix, etc., unfortunately made being "only" a rhythm guitarist a humiliation. Few aspiring guitarists who came after them didn’t want to be perceived as anything less than a "lead" guitarist. If you look in musician hook-up sites, guys list their instrument played not as guitar, but as lead guitar. Unintentionally funny. A guitar is a guitar---there is no such thing as a rhythm guitar, or a lead guitar.

I’ve been listening to Bill Frisell a lot lately, and his song parts are absolutely fantastic. He plays little phrases that deepen and enrich the musicality of a song, but that don’t call attention to themselves apart from, and at the expense of, the song. THAT’S the kind of musicianship I listen for.

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