This is easier to handle than the solos - I could only get through five of them. Granted, I did not have the time to spend on the clips earlier in the week, but drum solos can wear on me pretty quickly, even good ones. Still, many of my impressions remain the same, so I will comment on both sets of videos.
Neal Peart: Even though his patterns were fairly standard in the solo, I found his playing precise and dynamic. The solo ran a little long, but the aspects of the stage show made it entertaining. As to his playing on La Villa Stangiato, he did one of the things I think a drummer should do, and that is drive the band. He did this admirably, with precision and energy.
Bill Bruford: While I found his solo more technically profiecient than Peart's, it was not interesting. I like my drums to sound like drums (as I like my beer to tast like beer), and Bruford's reliance on his synths turned drums into sound triggers. Some of the sounds were interesting, but most of them were annoying. I much preferrred the earlier performance where the newest equipment he had were the roto-toms. He did not drive the band in the way Peart did, but his playing served as an integrated part of the overall sound. This clip presented a special challenge to me since Holdsworth is one of my absolute favorite guitarists.
Carl Palmer: I do not mind saying that I enjoyed his solo the most out of the five I watched. It was dynamic, over the top, and entertaining. It did not drag for me in any way. As to his technique, well, he's fast, really fast, and that's the most I can say about that. I thought it a bit of a cheat when the band clip also included a solo, but it was cool to see ELP at the Cal Jam. I preferred the solo clip solo.
Pierre Moerlin: My attention to solos was starting to lag, but I found this solo bland and uninteresting. He worked much better in the band context, adding rhythmic nuances to the entire performance.
Mani Neumeier: This is a man I find it best to watch to fully appreciate what he does with the drums. For him, it is a whole body experience and a delight to see. As to hearing, yeah, that's a delight as well.
Christian Vander: The man's ability to hold Magma down to Earth, while also driving the band in the best manner and contributing to the complexity of the sound is unparalleled. Out of all the clips, I think this one represents the best drum performance.
Bernd Noske: I am not familiar with Birth Control, and the song was okay, but his drumming was stellar.
Alan White: He is a fine drummer, but this performance is incredibly basic. He keeps the beat, provides a couple of functional fillers, and that's it. He performs much better in virtually all the other versions of Roundabout I have seen and heard.
Billy Cobham: As far as I am concerned, he is Da Man behind the drums, but then I just recently bought Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Collection, so I am on a big kick for him. I enjoyed the way the band was integrated into his solo at the end.
Dennis Chambers: This was my favorite clip, both in terms of the music and the drumming. A rock drummer drives a band like a race car, but a jazz drummer has to use more finesse when he drives and Chambers does this with honors. He keeps it going, and he keeps it cool. And Barbara Denerlein is fantastic - she should put a spot light on her left foot for playing the bass pedals. Either that, or a camera to put it up on a screen.
To actually rank these is perhaps the hardest part, but here goes:
1. Christian Vander
2. Billy Cobham
3. Dennis Chambers
4. Neal Peart
5. Mani Neumeier
6. Bernd Noske
7. Bill Bruford
8. Pierre Moerlein
9. Carl Palmer
10, Alan White
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The same ten drummers - this time wirh band
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