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Steve Gadd Band - Gadditude (2013) One of the most influential drummers of all time, Steve Gadd set a new standard in contemporary drumming techniques and performance, and in doing so launched a thousand imitators. Recording so many legendary drum tracks like; " Aja"," Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Nite Sprite", there is no drummer alive today who in some way has not been effected by Steve Gadd. His influence is still very much felt and can be heard in the playing of everyone from Vinnie Colaiuta to Carter Beauford. And still to this day there is no one who can get "inside" a tune and find the "pocket" quite like the great Steve Gadd. Steve Gadd was born in Rochester, New York, April 9, 1945. Steve's Uncle, a drummer in the army, encouraged him to take drum lessons at the age of seven; by the time Steve was 11 he had sat in with Dizzy Gillespie. Studied music at Eastman College, Rochester, playing in wind ensemble and concert band, and at nights in a club with Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Joe Romano and Frank Pullara. After college, drafted into army and spent three years in a military band. After the army, gigged and worked with a big band in Rochester. 1972, formed a trio with Tony Levin and Mike Holmes, going to New York with it. The trio fizzled out, but Gadd began to work extensively as a studio musician. He also played with Corea's first Return to Forever. 1970's and 1980's, toured internationally, recorded with Paul Simon and with Al DiMeola's Electric Rendezvous Band. By the end of the 1970's Gadd was the most in-demand and probably the most imitated drummer in the world. In Japan transcriptions of his solos were on sale, and all the leading Japanese drummers were sounding like him. Chick Corea commented, "Every drummer wants to play like Gadd because he plays perfect . . . He has brought orchestral and compositional thinking to the drum kit while at the same time having a great imagination and a great ability to swing." After graduating from Eastman, Steve was drafted into the Army. While carrying out his three-year tour of duty, Steve ended up playing drums in the military band. After leaving the Army, Steve began gigging with a big band in the Rochester area and in 1972, formed a trio with Tony Levin and Mike Holmes. It was after relocating to New York City that Steve became one of the most sought after studio musicians in town. It was as a studio musician that Steve came into his own and worked with such musicians as Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Bob James, Nancy Wilson and Joe Cocker to name a few. In the 70's and 80's, Steve Cut five albums with Chick Corea, several albums with Al DiMeola including Al's Electric Rendezvous, and recorded and toured with Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, Maynard Ferguson, Roberta Flack, Jim Hall and of course, Paul Simon. In 1976 Steve became a member of the group Stuff with Gordon Edwards, Richard Tee, Eric Gale, Cornell Dupree and Chris Parker, while continuing his heavy schedule of studio work. Towards the end of the 70's, Steve had not only become one of the most in-demand drummers, but he had also become one of the most imitated, and revered drummers in the world.The 90's saw Steve become Eric Clapton's first call drummer, solidifying Steve's reputation as one of the most accomplished and skilled drummers of his generation. Today Steve is just as busy as he ever was with one of the most intense recording and touring schedules in the business, spending time in the studio and on the road with Eric Clapton, Paul Simon and James Taylor. Steve's influence on the drumming community can be heard in players from all walks of life, whether they know it or not. His feel, imagination, and abilities are the signatures of his trademark sound. Few others can manage to get inside a tune like Steve Gadd." http://www.drummerworld.c..._Gadd.html MICHAEL LANDAU: Michael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Joni Mitchell, Seal, Michael Jackson, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis. In addition to his session work, Landau has also fronted several bands including Raging Honkies and Burning Water. In the early 1980s, he was also in the band Maxus that featured future Los Angeles session musicians Robbie Buchanan, Jay Gruska, and Doane Perry. WALT FOWLER: Walt Fowler moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 1975 and formed a band with his brothers known as "The Fowler Brothers Band". In 1976, he recorded with George Duke on the "From Me To You" album, and numerous Johnny "Guitar" Watson albums. He toured with Flo & Eddie, Ray Charles, Buddy Rich's Big Band, and Frank Zappa. Walt has performed live and/or recorded with artists such as; James Brown, Roberta Flack, Stanley Clarke, Yazawa, James Taylor, The Doors, Manhattan Transfer, Fishbone, Paula Abdul, Luis Conte, Billy Childs, Chad Wackerman, Brandon Fields, Banned From Utopia, Toto, Steve Gadd and many others. Walt is also featured on many major motion picture soundtracks. JIMMY JOHNSON: Jimmy Johnson an American bass guitarist best known for his work with James Taylor, Allan Holdsworth, Lee Ritenour and Flim & the BB's. Raised in a rich musical environment, his father was a 47-year member of the Minnesota Orchestra's bass section, his mother a piano teacher and accompanist, and his brother Gordon is also a professional bassist. In 1976, Johnson worked with Alembic and GHS to create one of the first 5-string bass guitars with a low B string. Living in the Los Angeles area since 1979, Johnson continues to record and tour with singer-songwriter James Taylor as well as guitarist Allan Holdsworth, and is frequently heard with various groups at The Baked Potato jazz club in Studio City, California. LARRY GOLDINGS: Larry Goldings distinctive keyboard sound has been sought out more and more by pop, R&B, Brazilian, and alternative artists, including De La Soul, India.Arie, Tracy Chapman, Colin Hay, Lazlo Bane, Madeleine Peyroux, Luciana Souza, Rebecca Pidgeon, Melody Gardot, Walter Becker, Robben Ford, Steve Gadd, Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Till Bronner, Priscilla Ahn, Jesse Harris, John Mayer, and Norah Jones. Also worked w/Russ Titelman, Larry Klein, Steve Jordan, Bob Power, Larry Williams, Dave Grusin, and Lee Ritenour. He has collaborated with musicians such as Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Carla Bley, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny, John Pizzarelli, Jack DeJohnette and Charlie Haden, in genres including jazz, Brazilian, funk, and pop music as pianist (since 2001) James Taylor. In 2007, Goldings, DeJohnette and Scofield, received a Grammy nomination for Trio Beyond - Saudades (ECM). http://www.drstevegadd.co...ddband.htm Music for adventurous listeners tA  Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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all these cats are gettin old !
true story - I was a drummer in high school ... nothin great but - - - my first drum teacher told me Steve Gadd was the best drummer in the world (in defense of him he mentioned other drummers that were very good ... Neil Peart , etc ) - -- and I found out that Steve Gadd played with Paul Simon so I was kinda smitten ....
Great drummer and one of those guys that is subtle about it ... yet like the article says "his influence is everywhere " ... Colonel Angus may be smelly. colonel angus may be a little rough . but deep down ... Colonel angus is very sweet. | |
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Mark King (Level 42's Bassist, and a drummer himself) used to always tell this Musician's Joke:
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"How many drummers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?"
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"Four--One to actually screw the bulb, and the other three to to stand around and talk about how Steve Gadd would've done it."
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Gadd has a long shadow, indeed! Steely Dan fans are still dissecting that "Aja" breakdown....
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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I'm not an expert on Steve Gadd, but the few times I've seen him in Eric Clapton's band, he really blew me away..a beast on the skins! |
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