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Drums were lightly allowed back in the acoustic days, most often on military band records, it seems.

But how early? 1906 or something?

IIRC 'Roll of drums' is listed as an available title amongst an early Berliner 'list of plates' circa 1894.

Thanks. As far back as 1894 means pretty much anything goes, I guess.

It couldn't have been too early. Drummers like to sleep in.

Good point.

Back to serious: any band record had drums to set and keep the tempo. It wasn't until the later 20s though, apart from marching bands etc., that they were put in a position to the microphone that you could actually hear them. That more or less applies to the whole rhythm section. How often do you hear a band piano for instance? Even pianists/bandleaders, apart from Ellington, are seldom heard, though they are really there.
Off Topic: drummers are indeed a complete separate category. I've been the soundie for quite a number of concerts in a jazz club and the drummer was usually the last to appear, like he had just fallen out of bed. And you could not set up the band before he was there...
An anecdote: how can see how experienced a drummer is? Look at the size of the drumkit. The smaller, the more experienced.

(J.M.J.) The Original Dixieland Jass Band first recordings of "Jazz Music" in Feb. 1917 had Tony Spargo featured on drums and percussion quite up high in the mix, at that time meaning close to the recording horn in the Victor New York studio.

syncopeter wrote: An anecdote: how can see how experienced a drummer is? Look at the size of the drumkit. The smaller, the more experienced.

Louie Bellson might have disagreed, to say nothing of at least a few others.
But I see what you're getting at. Practiced players know how to maximize the use of just a few drums and cymbals, and don't necessarily need to have large setups, to show off, or whatever.

Something the old jazz hands were good at was being able to produce different tones and shades out of a single drum or cymbal. As opposed to using them as something just to hit.

To my knowledge this is the first recording to include drums. Has anyone ever transcribed any Bell Tainter records, perhaps there might be a drum recording on one of them???



http://www.nps.gov/edis/photosmultimedi ... -sound.htm

"The Fifth Regiment March"
Performed by: Issler's Orchestra
Record format: Edison cream colored cylinder.
Recorded by: Walter H. Miller
Location: West Orange, New Jersey or local vicinity
Recording date: c. March 1889.
NPS object catalog number: EDIS 564

Thanks again for that. 1889 is, well, pretty early.