It's both qualitative (not quantitative-unless you're measuring fastest single strokes WFD style, or album sales, or number of artists played with, etc...but where's the fun in that?
) and open to subjective viewpoints; nevertheless, after you talk to enough fellow musicians, and listen to enough music, a lot of the same names start appearing in different people's own views of who "the greats" are, if not "the best." Now, I know some people don't like the concept of there being "the best" in music, because it's impossible to measure objectively, there are so many intangible things that go into people's own subjective evaluations of who "the best" is, and it seems ultimately, kind of pointless. I understand and sympathize with all of that sentiment-which is why I hold it to be true that there are many truly great drummers, musicians, and artists, who stand head and shoulders above all the rest in terms of artistic creativity, ease of expression, stylistic versatility, adaptability, and groundbreaking innovation; yet I also hold it to be true that no ONE drummer, musician, or artist in general is objectively "the best."
Drummers know the names. Buddy Rich. Joe Morello. Tony Williams. Elvin Jones. Billy Cobham. Steve Gadd. Jeff Porcaro. Vinnie Colaiuta. Dave Weckl. Dennis Chambers. It seems like a big list, and I've definitely left a lot of people out, but the thing is, when you think of how many people in the world who are highly skillful, solid drummers, the list of "the greats" is actually quite small in comparison.
So, returning to my original question...what separates these truly great drummers, and others not listed, from the rest of the pack?
.gif "Smile")
Partly a rhetorical question, but also a question that I think our answers in this thread could lend some insight into what it means to be a musical artist.
