Drummer Michael Sarin has been a mainstay of the jazz scene (and in particular of a certain difficult-to-describe niche within said scene) for over three decades and one of the most fascinating things about looking at his career is the loyalty he has earned from bandleaders whose music he enriches. This list is an interesting microcosm of that in that there are only three bandleaders listed below who have released fewer than three albums with him as the drummer (with five or more in numerous instances). It’s no wonder given his capacity to be assertive versus sensitive, to approach the rhythm from a grooving versus ethereal standpoint, and most importantly for many of these musicians to turn on a dime from one tune or even moment to the next.

I am so excited to play with him the first time as he joins Sam Bardfeld for the latter’s visit to Resonant Motion’s Jazz Up Close series this Saturday (5/24) and if you’re excited too, here are some (personal) highlights from his vast discography to whet your appetite.

1 ) “Ahab’s Leg” from LIVE! On Tour by Thomas Chapin Trio (1992)

The first tune on his first album with woodwind virtuoso Thomas Chapin’s trio also marks my first exposure to his playing. If you’re unfamiliar with this important but (due to TC’s tragic passing at age 40 due to leukemia) short-lived ensemble, now is a good time to get hip to how enormous their sound was, especially for a trio. This driving funk-meets-skronk tune is a fun point of entry to their energy and interplay.

2 ) “Actualities” from Five by Dave Douglas (1995)

This multifaceted, expansive tune demonstrates both Michael’s well-documented synergy with trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas and his mastery of what some would call “freebop,” navigating fluidly through the music yet with a surplus of groove on the in-tempo parts to complement the rhythmically esoteric sections.

3 ) “Sky Piece” from Sky Piece by Thomas Chapin Trio (1996)

Having already represented the first Thomas Chapin Trio record with Michael Sarin present, we move to the last, with this appropriately somber waltz featuring the bandleader’s distinctive sound on flute, the trio’s exceptional sensitivity, and Michael’s wonderful brushwork.

4 ) “#5” from Rothko by Dave Ballou (2001)

By contrast with example 2 above, this exploratory and soulful performance remains rubato (i.e. “free time”) throughout. With trumpeter Ballou, pianist George Colligan, and bassist Cameron Brown, Michael navigates the tricky task of playing propulsively even in the absence of time, and his solo in the middle of the tune is utterly gorgeous.

5 ) “Naftule’s Nussach” from Live in Krakow by David Krakauer (2003)

If you think that klezmer drumming is just boilerplate boom-cha boom-cha . . . well, sometimes it is, but listen away to how Michael locks in with Nicki Parrott’s bass and Will Holshouser’s accordion (underneath Krakauer’s clarinet and Sheryl Bailey’s guitar) here to get an alternate view.

6 ) “Four Folk Songs” from Little Things Run the World by Ben Allison (2007)

All three of the Ben Allison albums with Michael on them are masterpieces, including this one with the bassist/composer’s group Man Size Safe. Another shapeshifting tune, this one walks the tightrope between deep pocket and rhythmic ambiguity throughout, and Michael keeps it on the rails with customary aplomb.

7 ) “Pygmy Hut” from Uncivilized Ruminations by Frank Carlberg (2011)

Michael’s contributions to pianist Frank Carlberg’s music (not including albums on which they’re both sidemen) amount to over a half-dozen records over a more than thirty year span. Somewhere in the middle is this infectious tune, which features a fiery drum solo amidst his driving work as an accompanist.

8 ) “Sneaky Pete” from Nighthawks by Erik Friedlander (2013)

This is another funky one, but the swampy groove and dynamics are more laid-back than on some of the others on this list. Michael lights up the sound underneath the soloists (including Doug Wamble on guitar and cellist Friedlander) before getting his own rave-up with the support of bassist Trevor Dunn.

9 ) “Blue Drum” from Vertical by Mario Pavone (2016)

Michael played on some classic albums by bassist/composer Mario Pavone, his section-mate in the Thomas Chapin trio. I was a little ambivalent about choosing a drum feature, ironically, because his contributions to Mario’s music are so vast, but his melodic brushwork here is just too delightful to pass over.

10 ) “One of These Things” from Fuzzy and Blue by Joe Fiedler (2021)

In keeping with his legacy as the heartbeat of groups with sparse or otherwise nontraditional instrumentation, Micheal has been an indispensable part of trombonist Joe Fiedler’s trio projects. The Open Sesame project (music from Sesame Street, for which Fiedler serves as Musical Director) is a fuller variation of that, and his solo towards the end of this funky calypso tune is just the icing on the cake.