Burt Korall's survey of 20th-century bebop jazz drummers covers both well-known and slightly more obscure figures among the annals of timekeeping. From Lou Fromm, whose career was destroyed by heroin, and Billy Exiner, who, though he never fully made the transition from dance band music to the faster, more rhythmically complex style of bebop, made a masterful contribution to Claude Thornhill's innovative band, to better known figures such as Stan Levey and Max Roach, the latter of whom pioneered the classic bebop style of drumming, Korall provides invaluable background information on the playing methods, approaches to music, and influences of a wide variety of drummers. Divided in to categories like Visionaries, Transitional Figures, and Innovators, Korall's idiosyncratic list of influential percussionists is of necessity not completely comprehensive; however, DRUMMIN' MEN is a treasure trove of obscure careers unearthed, helpful advice from drumming giants, and informed comment from the author himself. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.