Suggestions for people who love percussion? Pop, World, or Jazz?

No one has yet mentioned Paul Simon - The Rhythm of the Saints great Brazilian percussion and otherwise all over that album. I know you didn't mention Classical music (which is understandable as it is not widely recognised as 'percussive' music) but there is a piece by Aulis Sallinen - Symphony No. 2 Op. 29 (Symphonic Dialogue for Percussion Player and Orchestra). It's a great piece for percussion. There is a wonderful recording by the Mälmo Symphony Orchestra; Okko Kamu Conductor. I'm not sure if it's still in print, but it's on BIS(BIS-CD-511). This CD also has a recording of the Sallinen Symphony No. 6 and Sunrise Serenade; also two lovely pieces.

 

The Kodo Drummers of Japan.

You've never heard - or better yet, seen - drum music played like this before!

 

If there's a stereotype of classical music as not having much music for percussion, it's a wrong one. There's no better place to start than Bartok's Sonata for two pianos and percussion or Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta. I highly recommend John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, but if you don't think piano is really a percussion instrument try John Cage, Works for Percussion by Quator Helios on WERGO 6203-2. One of the first CD's I bought was BIS CD-232 The Kroumata Percussion Ensemble playing works of Cage, Cowell, Lundquist, and Taira. This is a nice sampler of contemporary classical percussion from an international group of composers. Like wise Skin Hits, Globe GLO 5066, by Percussion Group the Hague. Harry Partch, a true musical renegade, designed and constructed his own fanciful percussion instruments. His compositions are on various labels including CRI. I've always thought that Uncle Meat was practically and homage to Partch. And then there's FZ himself...

 

Try to look for anything Dick Schory on RCA label.
Great 50's and 60's precussion music!

 

What he said. How could I forget Cage?

There are also Blur, Everyday, Turn, and Swirl, by the contemporary composer Todd Levin. Wagner meets Hi-Hop is the only way I can think of to describe this. These are available on a recording from Deutsche Grammophon (445 847-2) entitled: Todd Levin De Luxe.

 

Try Talking Heads "Remain in Light". "Holy Ghost" by the Bar Kays
Adam and the Ants - Thompson Twins- Tom Tom Club

Tom

 

I Really Love Billy Cobham's Jazz Fusion Styles. His drumming and percussion Smokes on the "Spectrum" album. The Vinyl version beats the cd hands down though in my opinion.

 

Available on DVD-A, by the way.

 

Santana's Abraxas SACD has made the biggest percussive impact on me of all my discs.