Due to ignorance, sexism, laziness and what have you, women behind the kit don’t get the respect they deserve. And it doesn’t help much that the most visible female drummer of the last 20 years [cough*Meg White*cough] is such a musical disappointment.
We’re obviously not going to change the world but feel it’s quite worth it to highlight and point out some badass ladies that deserve every bit of your attention.
Here they are, in alphabetical order:
CARLA AZAR
Her current gig—playing for Jack White since 2011—is her most high profile yet, but this L.A.-based drummer is a fixture on the Hollywood independent film circuit as a composer and is a founding member of indie cult favorites Autolux.
Recommended track: Sample Azar’s tasty Bonham-meets-Chamberlin groove on “Turnstile Blues”, the leadoff track from Autolux’s debut album Future Perfect [DMZ-2004].
CINDY BLACKMAN
Inspired to play drums after seeing the late great Tony Williams behind the kit, Blackman is an impressive jazz and rock musician who is probably best known for her longtime stint as Lenny Kravitz’s touring drummer. But Blackman has an imposing list of credits to her name, including playing with Ron Carter, Bill Laswell, Joe Henderson, Mike Stern, and Cassandra Wilson, in addition to her own records and duties as an international drum clinician. In 2011 she played drums for her husband Carlos Santana’s one-off reunion with John McLaughlin.
Recommended track: Her playing on the tribute to the legendary saxophonist on “For Wayne (Shorter, That Is)” from her album Music for the New Millennium [Sacred Sounds-2005] is both groovy and sublime.
SUSIE IBARRA
California-born, Texas-raised and a resident of NYC since 1989, Ibarra is a noted jazz drummer with a predilection for the avant garde and experimental who's also worked the likes of Arto Lindsay, Thurston Moore, and Prefuse 73. Ibarra is also known for exploring the music of her Filipino heritage and other styles of music from around the world.
Recommended track: “Logistic” from the David S. Ware album Go See the World [Columbia-1998].
PATTY SCHEMEL
Courtney Love’s larger than life persona is why Hole were (in)famous but Patty Schemel is why they kicked ass as a band. A longtime favorite of ours, Ms. Schemel is a badass rock and roll drummer who deserves way more props and recognition than she gets: one need only listen to her both explosive and propulsive stick work on Hole’s “Violet” from Live Through This [DGC-1994] to hear why.
JANET WEISS
Overshadowed in the iconic indie rock band Sleater-Kinney by the songwriting partnership of Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker (as well as their relationship drama), Weiss has demonstrated over the years her mastery behind the kit in and out of the group (Bright Eyes, Stephen Malkmus, Quasi, The Shins), as evidenced by her ranking by Stylus Magazine as one of rock’s top 50 drummers.
Recommended track: Plenty of Sleater-Kinney songs, of course, but to hear Weiss in a freer, more open context, “Real Emotional Trash”, the ten minute title track from the 2008 Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks album [Matador] is a must listen.
