Jeff Ballard
Jeff Ballard is one of my favorite contemporary jazz drummers. He is spot-on and even when playing sparse and syncopated rhythms, tends to keep the energy level high and the rhythm driving. Of course, I don't want to over-simplify &emdash; Ballard is a versatile musician &emdash; but my favorite recordings of his are the ones that have a driving rhythm, either in a upper tempos or if they are a slower tune, by filling at double-time. Check out his website here:
www.jeffballard.com