It is difficult to lead a band from behind the set, and often behind the band, but drummers have always been very good leaders. The tradition goes back to Chick Webb and Roy Milton. Many drumming greats have led their own bands. From Gene, Buddy, and Louie, to Roy, Art, Elvin, and Tony, to Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, and Billy Hart. And from Phil Collins and Dave Grohl to Steve Smith, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Brian Blade, Bill Stewart, and this month’s cover artist Nate Smith. Drummers are LEADERS! We are also seeing outstanding new recordings led by and being produced by lesser-known drummers. In this month’s Out Now column alone, we reviewed outstanding new recordings by drummers Matt Slocum, Rob Garcia, Paulo Almeida, Jason Kruk, and Oliver Le Goas. Maybe these names don’t ring a bell, but they are making wonderfully creative artistic statements, leading from behind the […]

July 2026 Issue