57 Best Jazz Drummers

Gary Chaffee

Gary Chaffee is another jazz drummer that is well-known for teaching rather than playing. While he’s an amazing player, it’s his educational books that place him on this list.

A lot of drummers started playing jazz thanks to him.

Justin Brown

Justin Brown is a ferocious drummer and a permanent member of the Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet.

He won various drumming competitions in his younger years, and he’s grown to become a top player in the industry.

Greyson Nekrutman

Greyson Nekrutman became famous on the Internet when he posted hundreds of videos of him playing drum parts note-for-note of some of the jazz greats.

He plays very similarly to Buddy Rich, who is clearly one of his biggest influences.

However, he’s slowly grown into his own artist in recent years, playing in several big drum festivals. He’s also a passionate punk drummer, which is something that many people don’t expect from him.

Justin Tyson

Justin Tyson is an amazing modern jazz drummer that has played with Robert Glasper and Esperanza Spalding.

He’s one of those drummers that loves blending hip-hop influence with his jazz drumming.

Jeff Hamilton

Jeff Hamilton is another legend of the jazz music industry. He’s had a very long career of playing with top acts, including L.A Four, Diana Krall, and Monty Alexander.

He’s a great traditional jazz player, with many people citing him as one of their biggest influences.

Bryan Carter

Bryan Carter is a top-tier drummer, but he also sings and composes. This makes him a great overall musician and a special part of the jazz industry.

Makaya McCraven

Makaya McCraven is one of those drummers that creatively blends musical ideas from different cultures. He’s a joy to watch, as you’re always going to hear him doing something fresh and new.

Dan Weiss

Dan Weiss was one of John Riley’s jazz drumming students, but he went on to become a big name in jazz himself, playing with artists like Chris Potter and Lee Konitz.

Kendrick Scott

Most people love Kendrick Scott for the work that he does on his own projects. As a bandleader, he has a unique way of creating moving musical scenes that resonate with audiences.

He’s also just a brilliant drummer.

Top Jazz Drummers, Final Thoughts

One of the best things about jazz drumming is that every drummer somehow seems to be unique. No drummer on this list plays the same as another, with all of them having a personal touch to their playing.

You could spend days watching all these drummers play, and you’ll continue to hear new things.

The old greats will always be remembered as the drummers that pioneered the style. Drummers like Buddy Rich and Art Blakey did enough to cement their legacies.

You can also learn a lot by watching modern jazz drummers like Mark Guiliana and Mason Guidry play.