Greatest In The World

Frequently musicians get into discussions (usually over a few beers) as to who is the best player in the world on their respective instruments.  This is impossible to ascertain as every artist brings to the scene his own special creative skills.   They all have something to say but in different ways. You have to mention at least ten artists (or more) to cover the styles and other technical aspects of these players.

In the Jazz genre reed players will traditionally admire Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and more recently Phil Woods.  Trumpet players will admire Louis Armstrong, Harry James, Clifford Brown, Chet Baker and more recently some of the young lions that are recording today.

Even renowned artists themselves admit to listening and admiring other players that play entirely different to what they bring to the table.  Maynard Ferguson listened to Chet Baker and Harry James admitted to listening to Clifford Brown as someone that he enjoyed and sometimes tried to emulate (not very successfully).

In other words there isn't just anyone that can be labelled the "best in the world." However, drummers have their own peculiar set of likes and dislikes as to who they admire. 

In the summer of 1969, a mail sorter at a New York post office received a letter addressed "To The Greatest Drummer in the World."    There was no address or return address and the sorter wasn't sure what to do.
 
Fortunately, there was a former drummer who worked the front counter of the Post Office who promptly found Max Roach's address and forwarded the letter. Max Roach received the letter and said,   "Oh no, I'm not the greatest drummer in the world." Max then promptly forwarded the letter to Gene Krupa, who said   "Somebody must've made a mistake." Gene then forwarded the letter on to Buddy Rich.
 
Of course, Buddy had been waiting his entire life for that moment. He read the words "To The Greatest Drummer in the World" and smiled from ear-to-ear as he ripped open the envelope.

He began to read the letter, "Dear Ringo...."

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