40. Ronald Shannon Jackson
American jazz drummer and composer Jackson, was originally from Fort Worth, Texas. He can be considered a pioneer of avant-garde jazz, jazz fusion and other types of music. It was in 1979 that he founded his own group, the Decoding Society. The band plays a type of funk known as ‘free funk’, which is a blend of rhythm and free jazz improv. Jackson incorporated parade-drumming patterns, African rhythms and funk into a singular, instantly recognizable style. “He synthesized blues shuffles with African syncopations through the lens of someone who gave vent to all manner of emotions,” Reid revealed about Jackson in a 2003 Fort Worth Weekly article.
39. Glenn Kotche
American-born Kotche, is an American drummer and composer most well known for his time with band, Wilco. Gigwise named him the 40th best drummer of all time in 2008, whereas Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him at 82. Kotche has also released various works as a solo artist. His first was called Introducing, the second was Next and the third was Mobile. Kotche brought Wilco an orchestral percussionist’s sensibility, an indie rocker’s experimental urges and some real rockstar chops. Kotche explores accidental and coincidental rhythms in collaboration with So Percussion and other adventurous contemporary music ensembles. Kotche has a unique style that many would dream of possessing.