Top 10 Best Jazz Drummers
Jazz drumming is more than just keeping time. It's about pushing boundaries, expressing emotion, and driving the creative energy of a band. The drummers on this list have done all that and more, inspiring countless musicians and listeners with their talent, innovation, and passion for the art form.
As you explore this collection, you'll find a range of styles and approaches, from explosive solos to subtle, groove-filled rhythms that shape the sound of jazz itself. Some of these drummers were pioneers who helped define the genre, while others took those foundations and pushed them in thrilling new directions. Together, they represent the incredible variety and depth of jazz drumming.
-
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He is widely considered one of the most influential drummers of all time, known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed. During his career, Rich was often billed as "the world's greatest drummer."
There are not enough words to express the greatness and superior drumming of Buddy Rich. Whether he was playing in a small nightclub, a huge arena, or a jazz festival, he always gave more than one hundred percent. Many drummers claim to play like Buddy Rich, but there was only one Buddy Rich. As Gene Krupa said many times, Buddy Rich is the greatest drummer to ever draw breath. That statement by Gene Krupa still holds true today.
Nobody touched this guy. Buddy Rich was the greatest of them all. His hands were like machines. There will never be another like him again.
-
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He developed an interest in drumming at a young age, often watching circus bands march past his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan. Jones gained international recognition as a member of the John Coltrane Quartet.
You have Tony Williams' photo for Elvin... come on. Elvin was a truly profound player who freed the drum concept from linearity. He had great depth of ideas and a powerful swing.
Elvin Jones was the most creative drummer ever. His syncopated snare work was extremely unique.
-
Gene Krupa
Eugene Bertram "Gene" Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer, bandleader, actor, and composer. He was one of the most influential drummers of the 20th century, known for his energetic style and for helping elevate the drummer to a soloist role in jazz. Krupa's performance on Benny Goodman's... read more
Gene Krupa is often cited as the jazz drummer who brought the drum kit to the forefront as a solo instrument. Without his innovations and leadership, there would be no other star drummers - no Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Max Roach, Frankie Dunlop, Chico Hamilton, Mel Lewis, Elvin Jones, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, etc. Buddy Rich, a close friend, called Gene the "beginning and end of all jazz drummers." Gene was either at the top or close to the top of the public's list of favorite jazz drummers for several decades, especially during his first decade of stardom (1935-1945). He was a beloved figure among other jazz drummers - and in fact, among all jazz musicians - throughout his entire professional life. He influenced all who came after him.
Although some other drummers are cited as having the best "chops," Gene's chops were dazzling. It seemed that whatever he wanted to do on the drums, he could do. If for some reason he couldn't, he studied further and got up to speed. Gene was a student of drumming for his entire life, studying classical percussion as well as the drumming of certain African tribes and Latin American cultures.
Gene was also a very exciting performer, combining technique, feel, emotion, and ingenuity both in the studio and on stage. Anyone who doubts this should listen to his drumming with Benny Goodman during the January 1938 Carnegie Hall jazz concert, paying special attention to "Sing, Sing, Sing," which only he could have pulled off the way he did.
-
Billy Cobham
William Emanuel "Billy" Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader. He was a founding member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and is known for his pioneering work in jazz fusion. Cobham permanently relocated to Switzerland in the late 1970s.
-
Antonio Sánchez
Antonio Sánchez is a Mexican jazz drummer. He gained widespread recognition in 2014 for composing the original score for the film Birdman, which won several Academy Awards. Sánchez has also worked with jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.
-
Louie Bellson
Luigi Paolino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, known professionally as Louie Bellson, was an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was celebrated for his technique and innovations, including pioneering the use of two bass drums. Bellson performed with major figures and orchestras... read more
For my money, Louie Bellson was more musical and entertaining than Buddy Rich by far. Buddy Rich had technique, but Louie Bellson had music (and great technique).
-
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is a really great drummer. I saw him in the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House.
-
Roy Haynes
-
Tony Williams
Anthony Tillmon "Tony" Williams was an American jazz drummer. He gained prominence as a teenager in trumpeter Miles Davis's band and was a pioneer of the jazz fusion movement. Williams was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1986.
Y'all are crazy - Tony is in the top 3. Most of the drummers voted here would easily admit Tony is one of, if not the best. He reinvented himself three times in his career. Wow!
-
Art Blakey
Art Blakey was the most prolific. Everyone played with him.
-
?
Kenny Clarke
-
?
Papa Joe Jones
-
Max Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz drummer and composer. A pioneer of bebop, Roach also explored avant-garde and classical music styles throughout his career. He is considered one of the most important and influential drummers in the history of jazz.
-
Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl is an American jazz fusion drummer and the leader of the Dave Weckl Band. He gained prominence as a member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band. Weckl is renowned for his precise technique and innovative approach to drumming.
Dave Weckl has amazing fluidity, moving through different time signatures so smoothly. He has power, mind-blowing technique, and an incredible awareness of how he affects the music. He is my favorite by far, but without the great predecessors like Rich, Jones, Bellson, Krupa, Blakey, Roach, and contemporaries like Cobham and Gadd, there wouldn't be a Weckl.
Dave Weckl is the most musical and technical drummer. They invented the word "finesse" just for him.
Dave Weckl's speed is great, and he has chops right off the charts.
-
Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd should be way up in the list. He is very creative, can play with ease in different styles, and still plays with "bomba" (lots of soul).
Are you kidding me? Steve Gadd is perhaps the most recorded and influential drummer of our age.
I agree - Steve Gadd should be higher on the list.
-
Chick Webb
Considering his major health issues, Chick Webb was one of the most talented percussionists who ever lived!
-
Dennis Chambers
Dennis Milton Chambers is an American drummer. He is known for his powerful and precise drumming style and has played with artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Santana. Chambers was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2001.
-
Herlin Riley
-
Jojo Mayer
-
Philly Joe Jones
-
Vinnie Colaiuta
I can't believe that no one added Vinnie. I can't believe he's not in the top 3... possibly 1. I guess only drummers know about him?
He's absolutely brilliant. Vinnie should be at the TOP!
-
Jimmy Cobb
Nobody's better than Jimmy Cobb. Except maybe Max Roach.
-
Sid Catlett
-
Jon Christensen
-
Keith Carlock
-
Paul Motian
-
Steve Smith
Steven Bruce Smith is an American drummer best known for his work with the rock band Journey. He performed with the band during three separate periods: from 1978 to 1985, from 1995 to 1998, and again from 2015 to 2020. Smith was voted the number one All-Around Drummer by readers of Modern Drummer magazine... read more