A colorful soloist and an impressive technician in the tradition of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, Butch Miles graduated from West Virginia State College in 1966 and worked locally in West Virginia. He toured with Mel Tormé (1972-1974) and made a strong impression propelling Count Basie's Orchestra (1975-1979). After a few months with Dave Brubeck... [+] Read More

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A fine drummer, Danny D'Imperio is best-known for his leadership and recordings with the Metropolitan Bopera House and his own groups. He picked up early experience playing with the Glenn Miller ghost band (1970-1972) and two years apiece with the orchestras of Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman. He subbed for Buddy Rich when Rich was ill in... [+] Read More

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Dave Tough was famous (and infamous) for several things. He was a subtle and versatile drummer who hated to solo. He was an intellectual whose career was often rather aimless. Tough was also a painfully thin alcoholic whose drinking got him into trouble on a regular basis and shortened his life.

Although he did not officially attend... [+] Read More

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A brilliant drummer, Joe Morello played early on with Phil Woods and Sal Salvador. He had short stints during 1952-1953 with Johnny Smith, Stan Kenton's Orchestra, and Gil Melle, but really gained a strong reputation for his work with the Marian McPartland trio (1953-1956); he also played during the period with Tal Farlow and Jimmy Raney.... [+] Read More

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Jo Jones shifted the timekeeping role of the drums from the bass drum to the hi-hat cymbal, greatly influencing all swing and bop drummers. Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson were just two who learned from his light but forceful playing, as Jones swung the Count Basie Orchestra with just the right accents and sounds. After growing up in Alabama, Jones... [+] Read More

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Delivering a high-energy performance of modern music focusing on melodic songwriting and superb technical ability, JRZ System presents an exclusive mix of funk, rock, and jazz-fusion. Troy Johnson's massive bass in perfect time with Todd Roberson's precise drumming lays a solid foundation for Mark Zavon's guitar assault.


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One of the great drummers of all time (and one of the few whose name can be said in the same sentence with Buddy Rich), Louie Bellson has the rare ability to continually hold one's interest throughout a 15-minute solo. He became famous in the 1950s for using two bass drums simultaneously, but Bellson was never a gimmicky or overly bombastic... [+] Read More

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Although he was generally reluctant to solo, Mel Lewis was considered one of the definitive big band drummers, a musician who was best at driving an orchestra, but could also play quite well with smaller units. He started playing professionally when he was 15 and worked with the big bands of Boyd Raeburn (1948), Alvino Rey, Ray Anthony, and Tex... [+] Read More

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