It’s true what they say/and a question


Last night I heard the Marcin Wasilewski Trio in Baltimore.  Wow! Not only did it restore my faith in humanity—if three guys could produce such beauty, we as a species can do anything—it also proved the old adage that listening to live music is essential. I was enjoying the music and comparing what I heard to my system. I was very very pleased. I feel my system is fairly dialed in. Piano bass and most of the drums.  If anything the tom toms sounded a little more real, a little more fluid than at home. So here is my question: what are some tracks that reveal that tom tom sound? Cymbals, snare and bass I got. I’m looking for something that will highlight the tom toms. 

tomaswv

As a drummer I agree with @roxy54 that the sound of tom toms can vary widely depending on many things.  Hell, using the right heads I can make my maple kit sound like it has birch shells, so who the hell knows what’s “right?”  That said, one song off the top of my head that captures a good balance of tone, resonance/ringing, sustain, dynamics, and the sound of the stick hitting the drumhead is the beginning of “Miss Thing” from Cyrus Chestnut’s self-titled CD.  I also find the tom tom as recorded in SRV’s “Tin Pan Alley” to sound pretty realistic.  If I think of some others I’ll report back.  

Yep, Marcin is a tremendous player. I have CD’s/hard drives of his work. He also plays with Manu Katche band. Both artists are on ECM which are always great recordings. Soix, if you’re a drummer you may know of Katche who is an unbelievable drummer. You should find some of his work and have a listen, if you haven’t already. 

Agree with @roxy54 

I listen to a ton of jazz both live and recorded. One could argue that of all jazz instruments the drums seem to vary the most from one recording to another.

A good example of good tom drumming is "Monks Dream" Theloneous Monk Columbia records with drummer Frankie Dunlap.

Charles

we are truly flawed and screwed as species. 0.01% of us the ones with the talent and the eventual instinct to save humanity.