Instrumental music written by drummers is interesting because harmony (chords, melodies, vocal lines), which is what most listeners latch on to, takes a back seat.
- Spotify’s pocket playlist is good
- Tony Williams, who invented lots of the modern jazz rhythm idiom
- Thomas Lang does crazy things with the double kick
- Nate Smith is the grooviest drummer I’ve ever listened to
- Cavs from King Gizz is taking on Danny Carey’s mantle as cool toms guy
- Gavin Harrison’s jazz/prog solo project that riffs on Porcupine Tree songs
- Marco Minnemann is simultaneously frantic and groovy
- Billy Cobham, h/t Alexander Sullivan
- Yussuf Dayes syncopates like nothing else, h/t Ian Waugdby-Smith
- Jojo Meyer and Nerve sound like alien prog
- Mehldau and Guiliana electronic(?!) concept album
- Tony Allen (afrobeat king), h/t Alexander Sullivan