Mark Stryker

A conversation with Ethan Iverson about Billy Hart led me to spend WAY too much time compiling statistics from The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord to see who are the most-recorded drummers in jazz. What follows is list of the top 136. The numbers represent total number of sessions, not individual records. They also include only jazz sessions as defined by Lord's inclusion — no pop, R&B, film, TV, jingles, etc. They do include broadcasts and bootlegs that have been released. The results are interesting. The biggest numbers belong to top-call studio cats – Shelly Manne, Grady Tate, Osie Johnson, Mel Lewis. But there are surprises: Billy Hart is 5th (!) on the list, particularly impressive because his appearances are mostly single-session, modern jazz records dating back to 1961. Of course, he's still going strong at age 80. I went deep in my memory banks thinking of drummers whose numbers I should look up. I also looked at some online lists of jazz drummers and percussionists to jog my memory. Finally, after I posted earlier versions on Twitter, folks there pointed out a gaggle of omissions. I'm sure I've still left out some players, but this is fairly comprehensive. As more names come up, I'll add them to a running list I'm keeping on Facebook if they have enough credits to make the field. Remember, the numbers refer to sessions and not individual recordings. 1. Shelly Manne, 902 2. Grady Tate, 698 3. Osie Johnson, 692 (among the most impressive because his recording window was an insanely short 17 years, 1949-1966). 4. Mel Lewis, 690 5. Billy Hart, 646 6 Gene Krupa, 620 7. Buddy Rich, 606 8. Sonny Greer, 589 (Ellington made a LOT of records – all but about 25 of these are with Duke) 9. Don Lamond, 569 10. Steve Gadd, 554 (and God knows how many pop records, TV/Film dates, and commercials) 11. Papa Jo Jones, 539 12. Peter Erskine, 536 13. Kenny Clarke, 535 (woulda been higher had he not moved to Europe in the late ‘50s) 14. Jack DeJohnette, 502 15. Larry Bunker, 500 16. Billy Higgins, 498 17. Alvin Stoller, 497 (if you didn’t call Manne on the West Coast, you called Stoller). 18. Harvey Mason, 479 19. Louie Bellson, 472 20. Alex Acuna, 469 (percussionist) 21. Victor Lewis, 442 22. Lewis Nash, 421 (at 62, he’s obviously going to keep moving up the ladder.) 23. Elvin Jones, 417 24 (tie). Roy Haynes, 410 Ray McKinley, 410 26. Art Blakey, 402 27 (tie). Max Roach, 386 Jimmy Cobb, 386 29. Sam Woodyard, 381 (Duke Ellington redux) 30. Airto Moreira, 377 (percussionist) 31. Ed Thigpen, 374 32. Ray Bauduc, 373 33. Bernard Purdie, 361 34. Al Foster, 357 35. Don Alias, 354 (percussionist) 36. Ralph Macdonald, 347 (percussionist) 37. Stan Levey, 343 38. George Wettling, 342 39. Daniel Humair, 341 40. Han Bennink, 339 41. Cozy Cole, 338 42. Gus Johnson, 336 43. Joe Labarbera, 326 44. Art Taylor, 323 (also woulda been higher but for spending 20 years in Europe) 45. Idris Muhammad, 314 46. Connie Kay, 314 47. Kenny Washington 310 48 (tie). Ben Riley, 306 Panama Francis, 306 50. Adam Nussbaum, 303 51. Hamid Drake, 301 52. Danny Gottlieb, 298 53. Paul Motian, 293 54. (tie). Billy Drummond, 284 Alex Riel, 284 56 (tie). Lenny White, 280 Matt Wilson, 280 58. Billy Cobham, 276 59. Louis Hayes, 274 60. Joey Baron, 273 61. Jeff Hamilton, 272 62. Ed Shaugnessy, 271 63 (tie). Mickey Roker, 270 Warren Smith 65. J.C. Heard, 268 66. Albert Tootie Heath, 267 67. Vinnie Colaiuta, 264 68. Dave Tough, 262 69. Philly Joe Jones, 261 70. Jeff Watts, 249 71. Sonny Payne, 248 72. Oliver Jackson, 246 73. Sid Catlett, 243 74. Gerry Hemingway, 242 75. Charli Persip, 240 76 (tie). Tony Williams, 239 (only 51 at his death) Leon Ndugu Chancler, 239 78. Minu Cinelu, 235 (percussionist) 79. Earl Palmer, 233 80. Jake Hanna, 231 81 (tie). Joe Morello, 220 Bill Goodwin , 220 83. (tie). Marvin Smitty Smith, 217 Brian Blade, 217 85. Bill Stewart, 215 86. Frank Capp, 214 87. Ray Barretto, 205 (percussionist) 88. (tie). Bobby Rosengarden 199 Tom Rainey, 199 90. (tie). Cyro Baptista, 196 Dave Weckl, 196 92. Joe Farnsworth, 195 93. Emil Richards, 194 (percussionist) 94 (tie). Roy McCurdy, 193 Kenny Wolleson, 193 96. Zutty Singleton, 192 97 (tie). Andrew Cyrille, 187 Carl Allen, 187 99. Akira Tana, 186 100. Greg Hutchinson, 185 101. Alphonse Mouzon, 184 102. Paul Humphrey, 183 103 (tie). Joe Chambers, 179 Gerald Cleaver, 179 105. Herlin Riley, 178 106. Chico Hamilton, 177 107. Dennis Chambers, 174 108 (tie). Ray Mantilla, 173 (percussionist) Paul Lovens, 173 110. Jon Christensen, 171 111. Omar Hakim, 170 112. Jim Black, 169 113. Irv Cottler, 166 (Sinatra's drummer from 1956 forward) 114. Alan Dawson, 164 115. Terri Lyne Carrington, 162 116. Clarence Penn, 159 117. Aldo Romano, 158 118. Nasheet Waits, 157 119. Shadow Wilson, 156 120 (tie). Dannie Richmond, 154 Pheeroan AkLaff, 154 122. Dave Bailey, 151 123. Butch Miles, 144 124 (tie). Donald Bailey, 142 Bill Summers (percussionist), 142 126. Baby Dodds, 150 127. O’Neil Spencer, 146 128: Famoudou Don Moye, 145 129. Bobby Previte, 143 130. Motohiko Hino, 136 131 (tie). Eric Harland, 131 Jeff Ballard, 131 133. Tony Oxley, 130 134. (tie). Freddie Waits, 129 Barry Altschul, 129 Willie Jones, 129

Can't speak to the best sounding CD versions of this, because all my recordings of the band are on LP, but do want to acknowledge (a) the band was based in Detroit in these years and (b) the insanely high-level of execution and John Nesbitt's creative arrangements -- I mean, the rhythmic displacements & accents starting at 1:55 in "Stop Kidding" are remarkable, suggesting a superimposed 5/4 and 3/4 over a basic 4/4 pulse. Crazy for 1928, Schuller has a transcription in "The Swing Era."

Of all the things I thought I might experience in 2021, I never for a moment considered that one of them might be a video of Dave Chappelle plunking out 16 bars of ‘Round Midnight at the piano in an idiomatically correct language.

This is an amazing scene.

All of the 1959 trio performances from Europe that I know have been collected on this set. Like Jim says, Carpe Diem. https://www.amazon.com/Live-Europe-1959-Complete-Recordings/dp/B01BMPJ656/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=sonny+rollins+trio+1959&qid=1616379534&sr=8-4 Here's the best track from the Stockholm recording. The rest is from a studio performance -- excellent but doesn't have the high-wire electricity of this "St. Thomas."

These three-plus minutes of "Oleo" (starting at 28:43) contain some of the best, purest improvising I know over a standard form. I think I have it cued right to the spot. Everything I love about Sonny is in here.

The answer appears to be yes -- on a CD issued on the Magnetic (Lux) label -- but I've actually never seen this recording in person. Here's the Lord discography listing. Live In Europe '65 : Sonny Rollins Trio : Sonny Rollins (ts) Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (b) Alan Dawson (d) TV-Cast, Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 31, 1965 There will never be another you (unissued) St. Thomas - (Medley Magnetic (Lux)MRCD118 [CD] Oleo - Sonnymoon for two - Darn that dream - Three little words - Note: "Darn that dream" listed as "Good morning heartache" on Magnetic (Lux)MRCD118 [CD]. See November 9, 1965 for more titles from Magnetic (Lux)MRCD118 [CD]. All above titles (including the 2 unissued titles) also available on Naxos Jazz Icons 2.119011 [DVD].

And Bud’s “I’ll Keep Loving You.”

Good Lord ... I think these are from a decade ago or so, but I'm not sure. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/freddie-redd-jazz-pianist-contracts-1732763901 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/freddie-redd-jazz-hand-written-songs-1989947512

Not what you're after, but seems related: Milt Jackson plays piano with Dizzy (and Trane) on "We Love to Boogie" in 1951. Recorded in Detroit by the way, When Dizzy appeared on Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz," he played piano on five tunes. That show has been issued on CD, but I couldn't find the tracks on YouTube. Here's the Lord discography entry. Piano Jazz : Marian McPartland & Dizzy Gillespie : Dizzy Gillespie (tp,p-1) Marian McPartland (p) PBS Radio Broadcast, "Piano Jazz", New York, January 29, 1985 Con alma (1) The Jazz Alliance TJA-12005 [CD] In a mellow tone - On the Alamo (1) - Manteca (1) - For Dizzy (mmcp solo) - Lullaby of the leaves - 'Round midnight (1) - Portrait of Diz (mmcp solo) - A night in Tunisia (1)

Thanks for the heads up on this. As someone who spends more time than is probably healthy in used record stores, this is a date I NEVER see -- either in its original or the OJC. Carpe Diem as Jim says ...

My favorite Barron. Possibly my favorite Getz.

The good news: You haven't totally lost your mind. The bad news: Yes, you have.

Do you mean this? https://www.discogs.com/Various-Ossiach-Live/release/799088 [W2529] Ossiach Live : Wayne Shorter (sop) Joe Zawinul (p,el-p) Miroslav Vitous (b) Alphonse Mouzon (d) Dom Um Romao (perc) Live, Ossiach, Austria, June 25-July 5, 1971 Eurydice BASF (G)4921119-3/1-3 Note: Other titles by other leaders on this 3 LP set.

This email just came from Lydia Liebman Promotions, Lydia was Ralph's publicist. : -- Dear Friends, It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Ralph Peterson Jr. passed away this morning at 1:45 AM in North Dartmouth, MA due to complications from cancer. He was surrounded by the love of his family and friends. Ralph appreciated all of the love, supportive messages, thoughts and prayers that came his way throughout his six year cancer battle. He is survived by his wife, Linea, daughter Sonora Slocum, stepdaughters Saydee and Haylee McQuay, and his spiritual daughter Jazz Robertson. Funeral arrangements are being planned and will be announced shortly. The family asks for privacy during this time. Pertinent questions can be directed to me, or his manager Laura Martinez, laura@worldfusionevents.com. I cannot express how saddened I am to lose Ralph. He was a true fighter and an inspiration to me, and many others. Working with him was an immense privilege and the world is a dimmer place without him in it. We thank you for being with us during this difficult time. Lydia

There are reliable social media reports, including a posting on Ralph Peterson's Facebook page, that the drummer died this morning at age 58. Moderators: Please add R.I.P. to the thread title when you feel appropriate. https://www.facebook.com/ralph.j.peterson/posts/10159203021551550

Reminder: The Jazz From Detroit Virtual Music Marathon is today between 2-7 p.m. A $9 ticket gets you access for two weeks. Performances Charles McPherson & Randy Porter; Robert Hurst and Black Current Jam, Regina Carter and Xavier Davis, and Michael Malis/Marcus Elliot duo. I'm handling artist interviews and I co-produced the event. Here's the link. https://www.dso.org/events-and-tickets/events/2021-digital/wave2/jazz-from-detroit-virtual-music-marathon

I thought the documentary was very good -- a few issues, but still definitely worth seeing. This great footage of Bobby Hebb singing Sunny with Ron Carter on electric bass (!) is from the show. This clip of M'Boom is also from "Soul." Nikki Giovanni interviewing James Baldwin is an amazing two hours of television.

Here's another clip of Chick playing drums, this time in a straight-ahead vein with Michael Brecker in 1981: "Confirmation." (Audio only)

"Eddie Harris Sounds Incredible" from 1980 lives up to the billing. There's only one track on YouTube.

Simple oversight. There's so many different bands to remember. Adding a quick nod ... Thanks Updated: "Now throw in the sublime early ‘70s solo piano records on ECM; the go-for-broke duets with Herbie Hancock; the potent but short-lived quartet with Joe Henderson, Gary Peacock, and Haynes; the underrated Origin sextet with Steve Wilson, Bob Sheppard, Steve Davis, Avishai Cohen, and Jeff Ballard; and the New Trio with Cohen and Ballard."

Just a note on this. The vocalist here, Bill Tragesser, was subbing for Flora Purim, who had either just had a baby or was about to.

Thanks all ...

David -- thanks for posting and for the kind words. . Hutch -- thanks for the nice words too,

I love this record — in fact, the first side (with the standards) might be my favorite Chick of all. I wish I could have heard this trio live. My older brother heard them at the Vanguard in the early 80s — he went five of six nights. Roy Haynes wore a different cowboy hat every night. There must be bootleg tapes of this trio, but I’ve never heard them. I did hear him live at least 11 times. Solo piano (2018 in a 60-seat club) Trio with McBride, Blade Trio with Gomez, Blade Trio with Clarke, White Akoustic Trio with Patitucci, Weckl Duo with Herbie Duo with Gary Burton Origin sextet Five Peace Band with McLaughlin, Garrett, McBride, Blade (in for Colaiuta) Freedom Band with Garrett, McBride, Haynes With Detroit Symphony and small group