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This is a video I’ve been wanting to make for a while, but couldn’t find a good way to tell the story.
The subject of “underrated” players is familiar to any music aficionado: “no, but you really have to hear so-and-so, sooo underrated” is practically a cliche at music school dorm-room parties.
But in my searches, I haven’t been able to find much on it for modern drummers. And that’s a shame.
Larnell Lewis tells the story of his rise to drum-stardom as one of a chance meeting. Michael League happened to catch his performance in a Toronto club and like it, then Larnell sat in with Snarky Puppy a few times, and it just so happened that, the following month, League had the We Like it Here session booked, and needed a drummer to fill-in at the last minute. The rest is obviously history.
Carter Beauford was a “drummer’s drummer” in a fusion band before Dave Matthews plucked him from obscurity. Nate Smith was well-known in circles who also knew Chris Potter and Dave Holland, but nothing like the international brand ambassador he is today.
Which invites the obvious question, “what about everybody with tons of talent musical genius who DON’T get a lucky break?”
Or haven’t yet.
The six drummers I’m going to chronicle today are not “obscure”. They’re working players, with gigs. Some have substantial social media followings.
But, when you ask a New School student, in line for Nublu, or when I interview new students for my coaching program, there are the drummers who tend to come up - “legacy” folks like Nate, Thomas Pridgen, Nate Wood, JD Beck, Larnell, etc, “up-and-comers” like Jharis Yokley, Noah Fuerbringer, Roni Kaspi - and those conversations hardly ever include any of these six.
But, if there were any justice in the universe, they should.
To check my picks for 6 most underrated drummers of 2026, just watch the video.
Hope you enjoy!