Who Is The Best Cymbal Player?

[Drm1979]

I would also add travis Barker. He has a very unique way of playing his cymbals as if they are another drum instead of a cymbal.

 

[Nyama74]

According to Louie Bellson, it was Jo Jones:

“I remember one of the last jazz festivals in Newport, George Wein decided to get all the drummers he thought were top echelon at the time. Buddy [Rich] was there Mel Lewis, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, maybe two or three other players [including Louie]. Buddy did his thing, pulling out all the stops. I did everything I could with two bass drums. Elvin played real well. Everybody just – boom! – played hard and creatively.

Came time for Jo Jones; he went out with a high-hat and pair of sticks and tore everybody apart. We all threw up our hands and said, ‘Okay, you got it, man. That’s all.’ No drum set. Just the high-hat. And he broke it up.”

 

[bongomania]

Cool! I assume Papa Jo, not Philly Joe?

 

[Kevinpursuit]

Dave Weckl
Paul Wertico - Pat Metheny Group

 

[JazzDoc]

fan-ning

THAT is fabulous hihat technique.

 

[Elvis]

Klook, hands down.
If it weren't for Klook, we'd ALL be using cymbals very differently these days.....

 

[drumsforme]

Tony Williams,
Dennis Chambers
Carter McLean

 

[drummerjohn333]

I always thought Richie Hayward was tasty in his cymbal playing.

 

[stuart s]

I am
I go from one to another, never married to just one
just a suave player

 

[Drm1979]

Also add ginger baker to this list. He always seems to know just which cymbals to use to make the song sound great.

 

[singleordoubleheads]

Buddy and Louie!!

 

[hardbat]

Buddy and Louie!!

While they are both among the greatest ever, I was never fond of either of their cymbal sounds.

 

[Soulfinger]

Julian Sartorius.

 

[Bonzo442]

I believe Dave Abruzzese from Pearl Jam was booted because they felt he used too many cymbal crashes. My vote is Weckle