Three Drumming Legends Are About To HIT New Zealand!
I’m given to hyperbole at times, it’s part of the gig when you’re writing about pop-culture. You might think you’re above marketing-speak, and you’re one of the pure ones and all that, but when you have to churn the words you’ll not only resort to clichés, you’ll bathe in them like, well, like big marble baths I guess…
However, I believe it’s neither marketing-speak nor a stretch of any person’s imagination to refer to Peter Erskine, Gregg Bissonette and Dennis Chambers as drumming legends; certainly all three are players I’ve loved – and continue to be blown away by. The very best of their work stands up against any of the fine work by any other drummer you could care to name.
Calling any one drummer ‘the best’ is silly, as it is with anything creative – actors, writers, visual artists – but it would be valid, let’s just say that, to consider Erskine, Bissonette or Chambers when putting together any sort of list of the greats. After that it’s all just down to personal taste as to how high they make it on the list. After all, we all have our favourites.
I can honestly say that all three has had a turn being my favourite player.
In my early teens, I loved the music of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and so that’s how I first heard Bissonette. He’d played on records by both of them. And adjacent releases – he’s on the first three David Lee Roth albums (and Vai was in that band).
I was also into Dennis Chambers. Because Modern Drummer magazine (one of my bibles back then) told me that I should be. And they weren’t wrong. He had played on a dazzling array of fusion and funk records and could do everything from Latin jazz to funked-up rock. But he mostly sat at the dizzyingly fusion end of the jazz and funk spectrum. And I loved that stuff for a while there. (I sometimes still do).
From listening to players like Bissonette and Chambers I got to Peter Erskine, even if he predates them on the recording front.
I’d heard the name, I’d read his name on the sleeves of some of my records, but it was seeing a clip of him talking about dynamics and showing how to sit back and play quietly that really wowed me.
Next thing I’m deep-diving into Erskine’s catalogue, from Weather Report and playing on their Birdland to Joni Mitchell and Jaco Pastorius records, as well as all the ones he made himself. Then he’s there with Maynard Ferguson one minute, Stan Kenton the next. Everywhere I dig I find his name – from Diana Krall to Rickie Lee Jones. And it’s always tasteful. He can hit out big time. But he is so good at sitting down deep into the tune. And in playing exactly what’s required. He’s also expert with brushes, and that’s a big focus for me in my own playing right now, and therefore in my listening.
I’m still a fan of all three players.
So imagine my thrill to find out that all of them will be here next week – on the same stage on the same night/s. Unreal.
Rodger Fox is calling it The Big Drum Off 2023 and I’ve been excited about it for months. Now it’s finally about to happen. It’s nearly here!
Across five nights (Palmerston North on March 7, Wellington on March 8, Christchurch on March 10, Auckland on March 11 and Hamilton on March 12) these three drumming legends will be on stage with the Rodger Fox Big Band as part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the big band.
Rodger Fox has worked tirelessly as an educator, conductor, promoter, bandleader, and player. And his big band is celebrating 50 years in the business. An extraordinary feat.
Rodger’s nurtured some incredible Kiwi talents. He’s also introduced a great range of international guest stars to the band, and to New Zealand audiences. And taken young Kiwi players around the world to perform on stages as part of international jazz festivals; to sit in with legends like Bernard Purdie, Randy Crawford, Steve Gadd, and so many more. And next up, the three names I’m gushing about right here.
In fact, Gregg was here a couple of years back. I even met him and recorded this conversation with him as part of my podcast.
What a great thrill that was. To talk drums with one of my drumming heroes.
Gregg has been Ringo Starr’s drummer for the last 20 years. And on top of that he still finds time and room to play all manner of styles across all sorts of sessions, from recording TV theme tunes and movie soundtracks to big band jazz, small group jazz and rock. The works.
It's the same with the other players.
Dennis Chambers spent over a decade as the drummer for Santana, but before that he was playing for George Clinton’s P-Funk Allstars when he was still a teenager. He started on the drums at four and before he was 13 he was the house drummer for the Sugar Hill label, playing on funk, blues and rap recordings.
I’ve just finished reading Peter Erskine’s book, No Beethoven: An Autobiography & Chronicle of Weather Report. It’s not a new book, in fact it’s about a decade old. But it was new to me. And I loved it. Erskine has a warm, inviting tone in his writing that matches the personality you feel in his playing. He’s also worked with nearly everyone. And he’s not a blowhard about that at all. It’s just facts. And he’s so humble, such a team player that his most recent album is released under the name of all three players involved, even though it’s really his trio.
I was astounded to recall that it’s Peter Erskine on Kate Bush’s “comeback” album Aerial, and he’s there on Joni Mitchell’s Mingus album. That he went out on tour with Steely Dan when they returned to the stage in the mid-90s, and in fact he shares the drumming credits on the live album from that tour with one Dennis Chambers.
In the excitement I’m feeling (there are drum workshops ahead of the gigs for the Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland dates) I’ve been listening to the work of all three all over again. Marvelling as they go from jazz to rock and to so many places in between.
In fact, I wanted to make sampler playlists of each of these fine drummers. Not just for me, but for you too. Maybe it’ll persuade you to see one of the gigs?
The shows will be brilliant. I’m so sure of that. But why not take a little sampler of the players’ abilities.
Listen to how Gregg Bissonette blasts rock and pop as well as jazz
Marvel at the speed of Dennis Chambers’ hands as he sets up beautiful grooves with chops galore
And check out the range of players Peter Erskine has worked with across pop, rock and jazz
(These playlists are not a hint at what you’ll hear when you experience these players in the big band setting; they’re more a case of showing you the diversity of their playing talent).
I can’t wait.
But I’ve told you that.
A few times.
We are so lucky to have shows like this. And to be able to see such talent on our shores. But don’t forget, there’s talent right here – in the Rodger Fox Big Band. An incredible group that works hard to achieve moments like this. A time for them all to shine as well.
It was a few years ago now that I talked to him, but I want to include a link to my podcast chat with Rodger. Because there’s some great background in there.
Anyone tempted to see the show? Or maybe you’ve got your tickets already?
Might see you there!
I hope you find plenty of great drumming, and some cool tunes in those sampler playlists.
And, again, here’s all the info for tickets and dates for the shows.
And of course I have our regular playlist too. So you can enjoy that as well.
Happy weekend everyone!