I'm late to this thread but as I posted on an old thread, Billie told me that on LFR all he had was a tom-tom and one cymbal, period. No snare, no bass drum, no hi-hat, a tom-tom and a cymbal. So, this "standard rivet set-up" stuff is bull, at least on this recording. Listen again, closely.
As far as playing loud, Billy didn't. I was fortunate enough to hear Billie whenever he was in town. I lived down the street from his community music center, The World Stage. I had the privilege of seeing Billy play in several settings at the World Stage; with Jackie McLean, a duet with Max Roach, Pharoah Sanders and Juno Lewis, etc. Billy was always swinging and smiling but never loud. When I think of Billy Higgins the adjectives that come to mind are swinging, happy and tasteful.
Billy took the time to give my 12 year old son free drum lessons. He was a sweet and giving person. A lot of young musicians were nurtured at the World Stage including "B-Sharp" and "Black Note". And the stories he would tell! His main man was "Howdy Dooty", Lee Morgan.