1) James Brown – Star Time – I love the way each instrument contributes to the whole groove, kind of like reggae. There’s a “less is more” approach to it. Funky Drummer!
2) Paul Simon – Rhythm of the Saints – The rhythms on these songs are mesmerizing. The lyrics are pretty great too.
3) Keith Jarrett – My Song – There’s such a sense of peace and purity in the music on this record. I like everything by his European quartet.
4) John Coltrane – Crescent – This is my favorite Coltrane album. There is a very spiritual feeling throughout. The playing is really high-caliber, but it also feels completely natural and unforced.
5) Quarteto Novo – Quarteto Novo – Airto! No matter what instrument he picks up, he can make it dance!
6) The Police – Ghost in the Machine – Fusion music in the truest sense of the word. No one ever sounded like them, before or after. As a drummer, how can you not love Stewart Copeland’s playing!
7) Dexter Gordon – Go – Dexter, Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins are swinging like crazy here! Dexter’s solos are so melodic and original.
8) Sting – Nothing Like The Sun – A commercial album with some teeth. Manu Katche’s drumming amazed everyone. The percussion on History Will Teach Us Nothing and They Dance Alone is awesome and Hiram Bullock’s guitar solo on Little Wing is blistering. Oddly, the big radio hit off the record is my least favorite song and really seems out of place with the rest of the music on the CD.
9) Steely Dan – Katy Lied – I used to drum to Steely Dan records all the time as a kid. Jeff Porcaro has always been my favorite drummer. I always loved the way he placed the back beat in the groove, always full of heart and soul. When I was in 7th grade I heard this song on the radio called “Hold the line”. I didn’t know who the drummer was but it just blew me away. I knew right then that I wanted to be a drummer. Thanks Jeff! We miss you.
10) Chick Corea – Now He Sings, Now He Sobs – This album really opened my ears to a freer type of jazz phrasing. You can hear the influence of classical piano as well as avante guard jazz, but it’s still loose and swinging. Roy Haynes sounds so organic and original. I saw this group reunited at the Blue Note several years ago and got to talk briefly with Roy- he was very gracious.
11) Thelonious Monk – Live at the It Club – Monk always had great bands and this line-up with Charlie Rouse, Larry Gales and Ben Riley was always my favorite. They really tear it up on these sets.
12) Joni Mitchell – Hejira – A journey of separation or flight. Jaco’s bass playing is so creative and flowing on this record. Joni is also a great painter and it seems like her guitar playing on this album reflects this; as if the guitar is like a paint brush.
13) Jonatha Brooke – Plumb – I heard a couple of her songs on the radio one night and immediately bought the CD! I love her voice and her songs. The band is pretty amazing and it was the first I’d heard of Abe Laboriel Jr., who puts on a drumming clinic here. It’s no surprise he went on to tour with Sting and Paul McCartney.