Let's discuss this. Why shouldn't a drummer be able to follow? It's just another member of an ensemble, right? Who says drummers get to be the leader? The bass is far more important to the overall groove in my world. I was taught by my HS jazz band instructor that if the rhythm isn't in the arrangement, then a drummer won't add it. We rehearsed all of our swing tunes without the drummer before adding one to the ensemble, and it paid off. The instrumentalists set the groove, found the pocket, and executed the tempo/feel ... all without the "need" for any one person, or instrument to "hold the beat." The beat was already created by the band, and we held it all on our own. In fact, more times than not, the drummer would affect the groove in a negative way when emotion, or fatigue would affect the skill level. Now, this shouldn't be an issue for a pro percussionist, but remember, this was HS, and most teenagers were easily excited. With excitement, usually came tempo shifts. Quiet sections would tend to slow down, louder ones would speed up - very frustrating for the rest of us. I've said it before - drummers NEED to own machines, and practice with them. Tempo is not a negotiable thing for a dance floor, and rock solid tempo does not translate in to "no feel." Quite the contrary, I've found. Feel is what we do with the melody, the expression, the nuances ... how we interpret the changes, and the style ... none of that is clouded, or reduced with an exact tempo. I feel very strongly about this (can you tell?) and I hope it doesn't offend anyone. I think a live drummer/percussionist with a DJ is a very modern way to add flash, and excitement to an, otherwise sterile show.

I've worked rooms that won't allow drums, and one that DID allow a kit, but no bass drum. It was a volume thing, more than anything else. The general listening public in venues that I play respond to the music in this level of hierarchy:
Song selection (play the hits, and favs)... even Jimmy Buffett tunes Russ?
Dance tempos (if that's the venue)
Melody, and personalization - sung, or instrumental (eye contact, smiles etc)
Bass (sets the foundation for the rest of the changes)
Chords, color sounds (fluff, icing, adds excitement)
Drums (the candle on the cake)