The headbangers you might have known in high school would be shocked to hear Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain was originally inspired by Joe Morello of the Dave Brubeck Quartet—but he was. Similarly, Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction recalls how blown away he was as a child watching Gene Krupa drive the Benny Goodman big band. In fact, all the assembled percussionists admit it all really started with jazz drummers like Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, and Art Blakey.
Cindy Blackman Santana would know better than anyone. She plays both rock and jazz, with the likes of Wallce Roney and Carlos Santana (whom she also married). The various drummers also clearly explain how those jazz greats helped shape their own classic rock idols like Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and Ginger Baker of Cream (who is described as “a jazz musician in a rock musician’s body”).
It is cool to hear jazz get its due credit, but the rock titans are not neglected either. Somewhat surprisingly, Ringo Starr is presented on par with Watts, Baker, Keith Moon of the Who, and Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, but, again, there is no arguing with the rest of the field.
Admittedly, Lo never delves too deeply, but Count Me In is consistently fun, breezy, and musically hip. Recommended for viewers with rhythm, it releases today (4/15) on VOD.
