As a drummer, gotta love a drum thread. This is always so hard to pick...I like different drummers, for different reasons...but some favorites:
* Adam Deitch: Great groove/feel, fun solo ideas, in demand session player.
* Trilock Gurtu: A one man movie soundtrack. Amazing percussionist/drummer. The craziest thing about Trilock though is he only uses two limbs-just his hands. Discovering his playing early in my career changed everything I knew about drums. When you leave Dave Weckl speechless, you've done something right.
* Chris Dave: Fresh, creative, funky, etc. Pushing the limits on 'groove playing'. Here he is with the amazing Pino P on bass.
* Vinnie Colaiuta: What's to say...one of the best 'chops guy' going. Recorded for everyone, from Sting, Frank Zappa, Faith Hill to Megadeath.
* Dave Weckl: Chops legend. Love this solo by him; funky, fun, scary.