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Your Favorite Legacy Jazz Drummers

By Michael Ricci
November 10, 2022
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All About Jazz member votes were tabulated and this list represents our favorite legacy jazz drummers of all time. Fully transparent and easily verifiable, All About Jazz's legacy drummers poll was conducted during the 2022 calendar year running from January to November. We would like to thank every member who participated in creating this comprehensive list for the next generation of jazz enthusiasts to discover.

Elvin Jones

Art Blakey

Tony Williams

Max Roach

Philly Joe Jones

Buddy Rich

Gene Krupa

Jimmy Cobb

Paul Motian

Billy Higgins

Joe Morello

Jo Jones

Kenny Clarke

Art Taylor

Shelly Manne

Chick Webb

Ed Blackwell

Louie Bellson

Mel Lewis

Ed Thigpen

Rashied Ali

Alan Dawson

Big Sid Catlett

Ben Riley

Dannie Richmond

Connie Kay

Chico Hamilton

Charlie Persip

Ralph Peterson

Jon Christensen

Baby Dodds

Charlie Watts

Ginger Baker

Pete La Roca

Idris Muhammad

Stan Levey

Sunny Murray

Grady Tate

Sonny Payne

Sonny Greer

Zutty Singleton

Vernel Fournier

Shadow Wilson

Mickey Roker

Milford Graves

Colin Bailey

Cozy Cole

Paolo Vinaccia

Tony Allen

Don Alias

Sam Woodyard

Jerry Granelli

Al Harewood

Earl Palmer

Ronald Shannon Jackson

Dave Tough

Larry Bunker

Buddy Miles

Hal Blaine

Mitch Mitchell

Bobby Durham

James Black

Jerry Fuller

Mongo Santamaria

Edward Vesala

Bill Reichenbach

Dick Berk

Charles Moffett

Ralph MacDonald

Leon "Ndugu" Chancler

Andy Kirk

Denis Charles

Duffy Jackson

Levon Helm

J.C. Heard

Jake Hanna

Hideo Shiraki

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