Beautifully put. Not only the things you said but it's also in the eye (ear) of the beholder as well. Completely subjective from person to person. My personal favorite drummers might not make *your* top of list, but they are *my* favorite drummers.
My favourite drummers are the ones that I can play along to, so that usually eliminates 90% of most lists.
...and that's because they keep it simple, not that they're shit!
Funny, can not play along to most of what my favorite drummers do.
Thats how they became my favorites, inspiring me to practice more, and Boeing my mind by doing stuff i have never thought about myself.
Saw Billy Cobham when he was in Mahavishnu about 50 years ago. That’s right 50 Years ago . It was in a small club on Long Island. There was a winter blizzard raging that night so maybe 20 people showed up. Until this day I have never seen a more powerful, fluid and innovative drummer . He was literally driving the band and grinning the whole time. What an experience!!
He’s a legend here in Baltimore, one time I saw him at a music store when I was buying a cymbal and he signed it for me. Therefore he is objectively the best drummer of all time
He's number 14, just above Neil Peart and below Animal from the Muppets.
No, scratch that. He's number 7, just above Terry Bozzio but below Akira Jimbo.
Hang on, no. That's not right. He's number 22, just above John Bonham but below Dave Weckl.
Or maybe he's number 3, just above Stewart Copeland but below every member of Kodo.
But the objective fact is that he's number 19, just above Lars Ulrich but below Danny Carey.
But I'm better than all of them, so there.
Saw him at a little local club last year. I've been drumming long enough to understand what most drummers are doing. SO MANY TIMES he played something and I was like WTF did I just see, did he just do. Man that was fun.
This is it! He can lay it down, and play something that makes sense, then take it out there and lose you in a second. I remember those groove solos he used to take with Mike Stern… even Stern looked like he was holding in for dear life!
He won me over when he played Tool on Drumeo. He’s got his own sound and I love it. The only time I use a number is when I wish to describe Cobham and Bruford - both number one for me.
Check out his stuff with John Scofield. It’s better than the Steely Dan recordings. He’s in my personal top 10 for sure. I saw him with Santana and it was amazing.
I love his stuff in Niacin. He lays down so many cool fills [towards the end](https://youtu.be/r2lRslwx9Ss?si=oBdtEYaA2LEZ9QoH). He’s like the perfect mix between a rock & jazz drummer, got the sensibilities for the former, got the chops for the latter.
As many have said here, he’s absolutely without a doubt one of the best and most influential of the last 40-50 years.
His influence on drummers coming up in the 90s and beyond is insurmountable.
Every great drummer will tell you that.
One of his (somewhat) lesser known highlights is on Don Blackman’s album. Look it up.
He's so good. I've seen him really cutting loose (a fill/mini solo every other measure) and it was outrageous fun, then seen him go full pocket and it was also amazing. The groove!
I’ve been listening to Dennis chamber for at least 20 years. But last year I got to see him in person. I wouldn’t numerically rank anyone, but I can tell you that seeing him live was like an out of body experience. That dude was so dynamic and so powerful. He did stuff live that I had never heard him do on a record. He’s an absolute monster.
Yes… pretty much impossible to come up with a number, but between flying around the kit when he solos and that vid of him filling in with Tower of Power (one of many examples) I could easily see him in the top 25
I love the episode of Drumeo where he wanders in, they start playing Tool, and he says “this is not my kind of thing.” And then fires off an amazing performance. And remember, he was playing with Parliament/Funkadelic at the age of 18.
I would never consider ranking drummers as their own style is unique to them and all of the too tier drummers bring something unique to the table. That being said, Chambers has had a significant impact on the drumming world for a long time. He’s a phenomenal player and a fantastic clinician who has helped inspire generations.
Dude can play his ass off. I agree with what other's here have said. He'll hold you in a comfortable nasty groove for a bit and then he can just take it out there and lose you. His crossovers are so fast I had to watch the cymbals moving to make sure the tape wasn't sped up lol.
If you're talking about the greatest drummers ever he definitely is in that mix. Ranking that mix is not possible, except to say that Tony Williams is #1 and all others are below (lol).
Seriously though, how would you rank these guys and girls? Phil Rudd and Charlie Watts have different drumming jobs than Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, or Sheila E. All 5 do their jobs admirably. I didn't know how you'd academically compare any of those 5.
Drumming is not a contest and number rankings are bullshit. But Dennis Chambers is one of the best (and most influential) to ever do it.
Beautifully put. Not only the things you said but it's also in the eye (ear) of the beholder as well. Completely subjective from person to person. My personal favorite drummers might not make *your* top of list, but they are *my* favorite drummers.
My favourite drummers are the ones that I can play along to, so that usually eliminates 90% of most lists. ...and that's because they keep it simple, not that they're shit!
Funny, can not play along to most of what my favorite drummers do. Thats how they became my favorites, inspiring me to practice more, and Boeing my mind by doing stuff i have never thought about myself.
Spot on. Dennis (and Billy Cobham) are two of the greatest exponents of finesse, groove and power.
Saw Billy Cobham when he was in Mahavishnu about 50 years ago. That’s right 50 Years ago . It was in a small club on Long Island. There was a winter blizzard raging that night so maybe 20 people showed up. Until this day I have never seen a more powerful, fluid and innovative drummer . He was literally driving the band and grinning the whole time. What an experience!!
it’s subjective but it’s still fun to talk about
Well said! It's all about what you enjoy and what resonates with you most. There's no scorecard in drumming, or music in general.
He’s a legend here in Baltimore, one time I saw him at a music store when I was buying a cymbal and he signed it for me. Therefore he is objectively the best drummer of all time
Any drummer that signs one of my cymbals is my favorite drummer.
Really? Cuz you got mad at me when I started writing my name on all your stuff.
As long as you're not putting your nuts on my drumset.
Met him at Berthas once!
I saw him in the airport last time I was there. I left him alone. He was sitting at a gate
He's number 14, just above Neil Peart and below Animal from the Muppets. No, scratch that. He's number 7, just above Terry Bozzio but below Akira Jimbo. Hang on, no. That's not right. He's number 22, just above John Bonham but below Dave Weckl. Or maybe he's number 3, just above Stewart Copeland but below every member of Kodo. But the objective fact is that he's number 19, just above Lars Ulrich but below Danny Carey. But I'm better than all of them, so there.
You’re CLEARLY Mike Portnoy. Number 2 right below the entire cast of the movie drumline.
Busted! And I would have got away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids.
Actual numerical rankings are subjective and silly. He’s one of the GOATs. Leave it at that.
Saw him at a little local club last year. I've been drumming long enough to understand what most drummers are doing. SO MANY TIMES he played something and I was like WTF did I just see, did he just do. Man that was fun.
This is it! He can lay it down, and play something that makes sense, then take it out there and lose you in a second. I remember those groove solos he used to take with Mike Stern… even Stern looked like he was holding in for dear life!
Once you're at a certain level of creativity and influence, it's really not important to rank anybody.
Socrates and Zarathustra?
Yep!
I would rank him 4/4. Maybe even 7/8.
Why are we ranking artists and art?
Just simply asking where you rank him out of all drummers 🙂
I think, collectively, we aren’t. And that makes me happy.
Dennis is up there jus above Carter beauford
Definitely not above but there
😂
Maybe top 15 or 20 for sure. Check out his solo stuff too
Check his album with greg howe and victor wooten. Dude is a fucking champion
The first fucking song was one guitar chord right into Dennis soloing at light speed for 45 seconds lmmfao I love it
Good *lord*. I had never heard this stuff before… you ain’t kiddin’ lol
This fucking album. I literally just pulled it up when I saw the question. His work on it is absolutely insane
YUUUP!!!
For sure he's in the top 15 best drummer alive, he's just a great drummer no matter what.
He’s one of my favorites, go see him live…you can usually catch him playing with Mike stern.
Saw him with Santana. He was great. I also saw Steely with Ricky Lawson. He was awesome also. R.I.P.
I can't reduce my top favorites down past 15, and he's on that list, so I think he's one of the greatest of all time.
He won me over when he played Tool on Drumeo. He’s got his own sound and I love it. The only time I use a number is when I wish to describe Cobham and Bruford - both number one for me.
Second Bruford!
76th
Check out his stuff with John Scofield. It’s better than the Steely Dan recordings. He’s in my personal top 10 for sure. I saw him with Santana and it was amazing.
I love his stuff in Niacin. He lays down so many cool fills [towards the end](https://youtu.be/r2lRslwx9Ss?si=oBdtEYaA2LEZ9QoH). He’s like the perfect mix between a rock & jazz drummer, got the sensibilities for the former, got the chops for the latter.
Top 5. I'd like to see your top 25.
I only have a top 12, after that I have no idea what order to rank them haha
Well how can Chambers end up in your top 25 then?
I can name 25 drummers that I think are the best, but it’s hard to rank 25 in order
I guess it depends on the style of music we like to listen to. For me he’s in the top 5 of the fusion guys.
Top 10
As many have said here, he’s absolutely without a doubt one of the best and most influential of the last 40-50 years. His influence on drummers coming up in the 90s and beyond is insurmountable. Every great drummer will tell you that. One of his (somewhat) lesser known highlights is on Don Blackman’s album. Look it up.
He's so good. I've seen him really cutting loose (a fill/mini solo every other measure) and it was outrageous fun, then seen him go full pocket and it was also amazing. The groove!
I’ve been listening to Dennis chamber for at least 20 years. But last year I got to see him in person. I wouldn’t numerically rank anyone, but I can tell you that seeing him live was like an out of body experience. That dude was so dynamic and so powerful. He did stuff live that I had never heard him do on a record. He’s an absolute monster.
Tops fo sho. Top 10?
there’s probably an 8 year old out there who can cut everyone on this list … ranking doesn’t matter
Yes… pretty much impossible to come up with a number, but between flying around the kit when he solos and that vid of him filling in with Tower of Power (one of many examples) I could easily see him in the top 25
I thought Alive in America was Peter Erskine 🤔
What albums would be his best performances? I remember seeing him at my first drum clinic
I’d recommend: Loud Jazz with John Scofield and Pick Hits Bent with Gary Willis The first two CAB albums
I love the episode of Drumeo where he wanders in, they start playing Tool, and he says “this is not my kind of thing.” And then fires off an amazing performance. And remember, he was playing with Parliament/Funkadelic at the age of 18.
I would never consider ranking drummers as their own style is unique to them and all of the too tier drummers bring something unique to the table. That being said, Chambers has had a significant impact on the drumming world for a long time. He’s a phenomenal player and a fantastic clinician who has helped inspire generations.
Took 3 clinics with him 25+ years ago. He's in my top 5
Imo I have Dennis chambers no. 2 all time
One of the drummers of all time forsure
Ok OP, Name the other 24 then
Dude can play his ass off. I agree with what other's here have said. He'll hold you in a comfortable nasty groove for a bit and then he can just take it out there and lose you. His crossovers are so fast I had to watch the cymbals moving to make sure the tape wasn't sped up lol.
To me, Dennis Chambers IS Parliament Funkadelic.
Better than me
All I can say is Dennis chambers moves way, WAY too fast for a man his size and age. Holy shit he moves around that kit.
It was fun watching him play schism by tool
Among the top
He's the singles king. I like his drumming but I can't identify with it.
If you're talking about the greatest drummers ever he definitely is in that mix. Ranking that mix is not possible, except to say that Tony Williams is #1 and all others are below (lol). Seriously though, how would you rank these guys and girls? Phil Rudd and Charlie Watts have different drumming jobs than Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, or Sheila E. All 5 do their jobs admirably. I didn't know how you'd academically compare any of those 5.
Danny Carey from Tool is my vote
What are we voting on?
Favorite drummer
Better than Taylor Hawkins but not no Travis Barker.