Given the responses to my last analogy (to sports) I figured I'd try another one...
Listening to one of my favorite jazz tunes (Ole by John Coltrane) led me to ask - what role in a band most closely resembles that of a leader?
I propose that it's the drummer - what do you think?
Drummers enable success for the soloist, The best solos always have a great drummer behind them.
The drummer establishes the rhythm and cadence of the band.
The drummer carefully monitors the soloists and adds fire to the rhythm when needed and gives space when it makes sense to.
Have a listen to Ole and focus on the drums. There's a lot complexity there. Never resting, but never dominating the soloists.
One more thought - if any of the above is true why aren't more band leaders drummers?
While I can certainly see your point I think you may have the various roles and responsibilities somewhat confused. There is a drummer, a bassist, and a saxophonist; all members of a band. There is a band leader and there are band members in the operational sense. There is also a functional lead for each particular phrase or section of a tune. Sometimes that functional lead is the same for an entire tune or even an entire album. Sometimes the functional lead may change several times within the same tune. The argument could be made that the drummer is the rock solid and steady core of the team, following where led. The soloist is the innovative one, the one that must transcend the bounds of tempo and tone to reach new heights. The soloist has the vision required to take the ensemble in new directions. The lead instrumentalist or vocalist may be the operational and functional leader of the band, but sometimes another musician (the drummer perhaps)is the soloist, and thereby functional leader of the band. This issue raises a whole new discussion on leadership. Specifically, when is the one designated "band leader" in the operational sense not so in the functional sense? More importantly, can the operational leader recognize that fact and release functional control for the good of the ensemble, whether it be a band or a multi-billion dollar company. When members of an ensemble, team, or company are comfortable with handing off leadership based on the inherent strengths of a member and not based on their job description, then the group will be able to break through to new levels of performance.
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