I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one around here who seeks out great drum sounds on recordings. There’s nothing quite like percussion to demonstrate the advantages of a great sound system and I love the range of different sounds coming from a good drum set - from the touch of a high-hat to the excitement of working through the drums to the crash of a cymbal. I do bring a bit of experience: back in the 80s I worked in recording and remember the challenges of how to capture a realistic drum sound against how easy it is to under- or over-do it. Choosing the right mics and right placement can make or break a recording.
I also come to my love of drums from my jazz interests. Sorry to our rock fans, but yes there are some great drummers and solos in rock, but as far as sonics, there is nothing like jazz. Probably my favorite rock drummer is Steve Gadd, but guess what he brings into rock drumming? Yup, jazz drumming.
So I thought it might be fun to develop a list of recordings where the drum sound is really great. Last night I listened to the 1989 Chesky recording of the album Portrait by Clark Terry. I think it does a magnificent job of placing the variation of drum sounds within the group. The trading of solos between Terry and brush-drumming of Lewis Nash in “Finger Filibuster” is something to behold. Right before that (what prompted this post) was listening to the Three Blind Mice recording Blow Up! which has some incredible drum capturing. I have always loved the jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette whose incredibly sensitive “melodic” work is beautifully rendered on many ECM recordings. The drums in the song “September in Montreal” on Anne Bisson’s album Blue Mind is magnificent. And let’s not leave out the bass drum, which might be the hardest to record. One that comes to mind is Melody Gardot’s 2020 album Sunset in the Blue. In rock, I think James Taylor’s recordings have greatly-engineered drum sounds, very consistent with how he creates his art. I recall fondly the drum sounds producer/performer Joe Henry likes - a much meatier, rough-edged sound - listen to the work of Brian Blade on “Rough and Tumble” on Henry’s 2001 album Scar.
I guess one of the things I’m learning is that there is so much more to gain from a drummer’s performance when listening on a highly-resolving audio system.
I’ve enjoyed listening to a good recording of drums on a track from one of PS Audio’s demo lists. The track is “Bass & Drum Intro” from the “Nils Lofgren Band Live” album released in 2009.
I also noticed that an emphasis on the accurate reproduction of drums was an important part of Adrian Alexander’s FR10 YouTube review for The Absolute Sound. (The link to this review is included with other FR10 review information here in the “Shop” section of the PS Audio website.) Adrian mentioned that he was a drummer in his younger years, so he always listens closely to how well audio gear reproduces the sound of live drums. He reported that he was really impressed by how the FR10 speakers made recorded drums sound like they were supposed to sound. That’s a high recommendation for the FR10s by a drummer.
Oh great. You must know that I’m lusting after the FR10s. My current speakers are Vandersteen 2c and I just have a feeling that the FR10s would be a logical upgrade. I just need to rob a few liquor stores for a down payment.
If you enjoy “old” “Popular” music, Counting Crows’ “August & Everything After” is fairly remarkable in its faithful capture of the thwack on various parts of the drum kit.
When my system is right the opening notes on “Anna Begins” are a lot of fun. I use it as a reference track for system changes.
With a speaker change as significant as you suggest ensure you are square with amplification. Vandersteen 2Ce are a fine speaker, but the FR10 will bring more to the game, and a change in amplification may be necessary to hear them at their best.
I’m also a huge percussion fan. A couple of my go to albums are Joe Morello’s Morello Standard Time and for demo tracks I love Jim Keltner and Ron Tutt’s tracks on the old Sheffield Labs Drum and Track Album, which can be hard to find but its out there - Apple Music has it listed as The Sheffield Drum & Track Record. I actually prefer Joe Morello’s interpretation of Take Five on his album over his original performance on Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out.
I’m a former drummer. What I want in a recording is a clarity that lets me know what the drummer is doing, and shows a bit of the dynamics that exist in most drum playing. Those that most connected with me when I was first drumming were recordings of Tony Williams’, Kenny Clarke’s and Jack DeJohnette’s drumming–the engineers allowed me to easily disappear into and study those drummers.
It’s funny, but starting out as a jazz and classical snob, I didn’t really care for “popular” music, but as I’ve gotten older, I’m listening back to it with different ears. I do have a few CDs of Counting Crows, not the one you mentioned, but I can Qobuz that I’m sure. Thanks for the recommendation.
Good advice, Mr. Wop. My amp is the Stellar M1200 which I think would have the umph to power the FR10s, but probably by the time I make that move (after serving time for robbing liquor stores), I might be able to upgrade the amp too.
Here are some of the most recent acquisitions of percussion oriented music I’ve bought courtesy of Berkshire Record Outlet. A great source for “out of the usual path” classical music (if you’re a fan of such things.) The “Concertos for Mallet Instruments” and Lou Harrison disc are the most melodic and the “Anumadutchi” are a vibrant afro-european fusion ensemble.
Hey David. Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll preview the Sheffield Lab thing on Apple Music and consider finding it on vinyl. In another question I posted in another PS Audio forum, I mention how I have been involved in Apple products since 1990, including iTunes, then Apple Music. I don’t like that they are not as transparent about being bit-perfect, but I regularly find stuff there that’s nowhere else. As far as Dave Brubeck, I admire what he did to bring jazz to many listeners, but I’ve never been a fan of his playing - way too white for me - as a friend of mine would say, “he swings like a dead monkey.” I lived with a jazz drummer in 1980 and I remember he had several cassettes of Brubeck excerpts where he’d fade out after Desmond’s solo when Dave would start playing.
Another great album with great drums is ‘Live At The Greek’ with Stanley Clark, Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham (on drums), Deron Johnson & Najee. Outstanding album over all but track 2 “Stratus” is the stand out for Billy Cobham.