I am into everything jazz except totally atonal/out and really mainstream fusion but an excepion is the French contigent of Gong led by drummer Pierre Moerlin as opposed to he hippy David Allen/Steve Hillage led groups (hsarinbg some mebers otherwise).They put out an LP called Expresso (on CD it's Gadzuse but edited differently).The LP has some of the most intense drumming and is excellent with Allan Holdswroth laying down some heavy irrf on Guitar.But Moerlin is the main attraction and by the end of the fist sinde of the LP the bass,guitar,vibes et al drop out and what's left is a drumming tour de force that fusion guys like Tony Williams,Billy Cobrahm,Charly Antollini,etc. could only dream of playing as well.Fatastic LP.Have to say for main guys Max Roach,Roy Haynes,Klook(Kenny Clark),and Blakey (loved his decptive simple style especially his press rolls) were great as well as two Blue Note 60's drummers Joe Chambers and the Blue Note house man Billy Higgins were always reliable as were Paul Motian and Jack Dejohnette.Now there are some fine player like the every tasty Lewis Nash and Joey Barron.Can't say that my ear picks up bass and drums from the swing era like horn mean or piano players did.Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa being the obvious exceptions.Maybe that's why maybe the most revolutionary guy rhytmically was bassist Jimmy Blanton since in his era the Ellington band was known as the Blantop Webster Band which led to Oscar Pettiford and Mingus.Buit there was no drummer that was transition figure like Balnton was on Bass.You went from swing drumming to bebop with Roach,Haynes,and Clarke.Thinking about it all wants me to pull it all out now.TRhere is a great,inexpesnive box set by Proper called the Engine Room or something like that.Proper has put out many instrument/history of boxes that are great and the drum box is no exception.
Cheers
Chazz
Cheers
Chazz
