Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Specs Wright was born Charles Wright on September 8, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He played drums in an Army band until his discharge in 1947. Following this he played in a group with Jimmy Heath and Howard McGhee. By 1949 he had joined Dizzy Gillespie’s band alongside John Coltrane, remaining until it disbanded in mid-1950.
Wright would rejoin Dizzy late in the decade as a member of his sextet with Coltrane, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath and Milt Jackson. He would go on to play with Earl Bostic, Kenny Drew, Cannonball Adderley, Art Blakey and Carmen McRae as well as a member of the Hank Mobley sextet with Curtis Fuller, Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, Billy Root and Lee Morgan.
Not one to be idle, though never a leader, he was a sought after sideman playing with Sonny Rollins, Betty Carter, Red Garland, Coleman Hawkins and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross in the early Sixties. Drummer Specs Wright passed away on February 6, 1963. He was 36 years old.
More Posts: drums
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Eddie Locke was born on August 2, 1930 and at a very young age the drummer became a part of the fertile and vibrant Detroit jazz scene during the 1940s and 1950s. This period spawned such great musicians including Hank, Thad and Elvin Jones, Kenny Burrell, Lucky Thompson, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, among so many others.
He eventually formed a variety act with drummer Oliver Jackson called “Bop & Locke” which played the Apollo Theater. A move to New York City in 1954 had him working with Dick Wellstood, Tony Parenti, Red Allen, Willie “The Lion” Smith and Teddy Wilson, to name a few. During this time he came under the tutelage of the great Jo Jones, and eventually became known as a driving and swinging drummer who kept solid time and supported the soloist.
During the late 1950s Eddie formed two of his most fruitful musical relationships, one with Roy Eldridge and the other with Coleman Hawkins. His recording debut came with Eldridge in 1959 on “On The Town”, and he rounded out the Coleman Hawkins Quartet in the 1960s with band members Tommy Flanagan and Major Holley, that made many fine records including the exquisite album “Today and Now” in 1963.
Throughout the 1970s, he played with Roy Eldridge’s band at Jimmy Ryan’s on 54th Street, wound out his career freelancing, teaching youngsters the drums and appearing in the “A Great Day In Harlem” photograph. Drummer Eddie Locke passed away on September 7 2009, in Ramsey, New Jersey.
More Posts: drums
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Charli Persip was born Charles Lawrence Persip on July 26, 1929 in Morristown, New Jersey. The drummer became known as Charlie but in the 1980s dropped the “e” to become Charli.
He played with Tadd Dameron in 1953, then toured and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie’s big and small bands between 1953 and 1958 before joining with Harry “Sweets” Edison quintet. He followed this stint with the Harry James Orchestra before forming his own group, the Jazz Statesmen, with Roland Alexander, Freddie Hubbard and Ron Carter in 1960.
During this period Persip also recorded with Lee Morgan, Dinah Washington, Melba Liston, Kenny Dorham, Zoot Sims, Red Garland, Gil Evans, Don Ellis, Eric Dolphy, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Gene Ammons among others.
Charli would go on to record on the legendary “Eternal Triangle”, with Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt on “Sonny Side Up” and from 1960 to 1973 toured as a drummer and conductor with Billy Eckstine. As an educator has given drum and music instruction for Jazzmobile, Inc. in New York since 1974 and is currently an Associate Professor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
In the mid 1980s Persip led Superband that evolved into Suppersound, his jazz big band. Supersound’s first album recorded for Stash titled Charli Persip and Superband was followed by Superband 11, No Dummies Allowed and Intrinsic Evolution. Drummer Charli Persip has recorded 27 albums as a leader and a sideman and continues to record and perform.
More Posts: drums
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Matt Slocum was born on July 18, 1981 in New Richmond, Wisconsin. From his sophomore year in high school on he studied drums with Phil Hey, while playing in a Ska band. At the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Matt studied with Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, John Clayton and Joe LaBarbera. After graduating USC, Slocum spent three years in Pasadena but in 2007 he moved near New York City.
Since his move Slocum has toured with vocalist Sarah Gazarek for three years and has played with Shelly Berg, Seamus Blake, Alan Broadbent, Bill Cunliffe, Danny Grissett, Larry Koonse, Lage Lund, Wynton Marsalis, Linda Oh, Dayna Stephens, Gerald Wiggins, Anthony Wilson and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, among numerous others.
Slocum’s list of influences on composing is impressive citing Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, Tom Harrell, Dave Holland, Debussy and Ravel; and drummers Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Kendrick Scott and Marcus Gilmore.
Drummer Matt Slocum is the recipient of a Meet the Composers Foundation grant, and has lead recording sessions for his debut album, Portraits and After The Rain. He continues to perform, record and tour.
More Posts: drums
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Nasheet Waits was born on June 15, 1971 in New York City, the son of legendary drummer Freddie Waits, and learned to play the drums as a child. Before pursuing a music career, he studied psychology and history at Morehouse College. Transferring to Long Island University, he graduated with a degree in music but during his matriculation, in 1970, drummer and instructor Michael Carvin, who laid a great foundation for Waits, secured him a spot in Max Roach’s M’Boom.
Waits has recorded or performed as a sideman with such talents as Fred Hersch, Antonio Hart, Joe Lovano, Jason Moran, Andrew Hill, Bunky Green, William Parker, Eddie Gomez, John Medeski, Ron Carter, Hamiett Bluiett, Steve Coleman, Bill Lee, Jackie McLean and Mark Turner among others.
Acquiring the moniker “Heavy” as a part of his jazz legacy, Nasheet has been active on the jazz scene since 1993 and delivered his first album as a leader in 2009, titled “Equality”. Waits has recorded and toured extensively in Africa, Europe, Japan, Canada, South America and the United States. Amidst all of that, Nasheet teaches private lessons to youth and adults, stressing a personal approach to the drums and music and remains dedicated to exploring his role and creative path in music.
More Posts: drums