Country Drummers

[moogoogaipan]

Ok. So, I've been recently pulling down genre-al barriers that I've had up most of my life. Not from hate of the music, but just cause of lack of exposure.

I'm digging country/folk recently, and I want to know what is a good country album that has some badass improvisation on it.

I know Paul Leim is an awesome country drummer, but the drummerworld.com page doesn't list any spectacular albums.
I know from word of mouth that country takes an incredible amount of chops from the perspective of both guitar and keyboard. I'm just curious if anyone has any favorites that are awesome.

[Bluewolf]

Check out Jim Riley of Rascal Flatt's. I'm not sure on an exact album, but he's pretty talented.

[moogoogaipan]

yeah, can you give me some album titles.

I'm not really looking for information that I can consume. I'm looking for music I can listen to. I don't care if you have no idea who the drummer is... I'm trying to broaden my horizons and work my way to my goal of being a journey who travels and records with anyone and everyone regardless of genre.

My first step in that direction is listening to everything. So if anyone has any quintessential country listening, please tell me.

[Electric Requiem]

I am also rather interested in this, especially on the folk side of things. I recently picked up a decent classical guitar and have been trying to listen to a lot more folk especially (I can appreciate country, but I really have a hard time listening to it). Listening to/watching the Flight of the Conchords really didn't hurt to get me into the genre as well. They're a folk-parody duo and are the only comedic music I have ever found funny, I highly recommend watching some of their stuff on YouTube even though the fact that they don't have a drummer makes them of little relevance to this thread.

As far as suggesting albums I cannot be much help as I am in a rather similar predicament so I will be watching this thread as well.

[The_One]

Definitely check Nickel Creek out.

They have some amazing songs.

The drum presence is simple at best, but the overall songs are definitely worth checking out.

[moogoogaipan]

thanks cats.

I just downloaded a Merle Haggard "best of" album to get myself started. Simple drumming and classic riffs... I love music!!

[Tillmon]

I know you listen to jazz too, a good way to bridge the gap between country and jazz would be to listen to the Brian Blade Fellowship. It's a very country-influenced jazz group, in performance, instrumentation and composition.

[moogoogaipan]

thanks, Tillmon.

I'll definitely check that out.

[Chippy569]

i don't think country, for a drummer, is chops-reliant, but keeping steady time and a strong backbeat is quintessential. Country drummers aren't in it for the fame, 'ya know? There won't be a country drum solo, but country drumming (this is all IMO btw) is a lot like rock drumming without the flashiness. Steady beat, 2-4 backbeat, little interesting fills here and there... it's all you need.

Oh. Country drummers apparently all like Taye drums. I dunno why. Well, I do. Taye ****in' ROCKS. but I guess only country drummers know it?

[billdrum]

I don't think you can make a generalization like "All country drummers like Taye drums". If you watch CMT or another country music station, or go to concerts, you're going to see a wide representation of kits.

Much country drumming is like alot of studio drumming.....you have to play with a high degree of accuracy and feel, and play exactly what fits and little more. Some gigs allow more freedom than others, just like rock.

I've always admired the drumming on the first two Dixie Chicks CD's (might have been Paul Leim even, don't remember for sure). Check out some Keith Urban also...the guy's a phenomenal guitar player.

[SgtBaker]

Bluegrass is good, but not so much drumming in it.

[Bluewolf]

yeah, can you give me some album titles.

"The Many Faces of Joe Wright" - Joe Wright

I don't know how easy it would be to find though.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Ron Tutt. played for elvis. Good drummer

[Jeppen]

Big & Rich.

[mattsmith]

All of Chet Atkin's drummers were multi purpose guys who could do anything, especially Larry Londin and Randy, Hauser who is still doing a lot of work in Nashville. Then everybody forgets that Tanya Tucker's best drummer was Johnny Rabb who broke into Nashville playing country.
My dad toured with both Roy Clark and the saxophonist Boots Randolph. He raves about the skills of their drummers Greg Hutchinson and the great Joe Pass jazz drummer Colin Bailey who did stints with both of these country guys. In fact there appear to be more than a fair share of jazz guys who dip into country. It's pretty hard not to live in the Southern USA, and this not be the case at least some of the time.

Any recordings with these guys are going to be decent.