It feels like a good time to state some simple truths… THE BESTS The best-recorded drum sounds (in my opinion)… Buddy Rich’s Rogers kit on the first two big band albums he recorded for Pacific Jazz. Wally Heider was the engineer. Simply some of the best-sounding drums you’ll ever hear. Roy Haynes Ludwig kit on the Chick Corea album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs. Up until this recording’s release, I had never heard the drums sound so loud, present, and up-front in a jazz mix, or any mix for that matter. Every detail can be heard and savored. As it should be. Bobby Colomby’s drum sound on the second Blood, Sweat & Tears album. Again, the presence of the kit. Wow. Nice. The most exquisite combination of drumset and conga drums…  Mel Lewis and Francisco Aguabella on the Dizzy Gillespie album New Continent, playing on the tune “Chorale” (the suite’s final movement). […]

July 2025 Issue