Drummer's Drummer to tour next month

If you ever want to record a great album, then invite Steve Gadd to provide the groove.

Steve is known in musicians’ circles as “the drummer’s drummer” and has a global reputation of enhancing any band he plays with.

Steve is regarded by many as the finest jazz drummers in the world today and has been invited by jazz impresario, Rodger Fox, to drum up a storm in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Palmerston North next month.

His one-only Auckland concert with guest artist, James Carter and the Rodger Fox Big Band, will be held at The Bruce Mason Centre on Sunday, October 21 at 8pm.

Rodger explains that Steve isn’t the Buddy Rich kind of drummer who plays solo gigs for up to 15 minutes during a number, but the drummer who plays within the ensemble and gives it the underlying feel.

“He’s a drummer’s drummer who anchors each piece and gives it the groove. That doesn’t mean you hear him in the background. He’s at the forefront but always as a member of the band or group,” Rodger says.

Steve has a resume that boasts sessions and tours with the likes of Chick Corea, Steely Dan and Paul McCartney. He played in Simon and Garfunkel’s famous concert in Central Park, in Frank Sinatra’s studio album, LA Is My Lady and toured extensively with Eric Clapton, Paul Simon and James Taylor.

For his New Zealand tour, Rodger has tailored the programme around tunes that Steve Gadd is familiar with. Included is Paul Simon’s Late In The Evening, arranged for percussion and big band, Keep The Customer Satisfied and two numbers from Steve’s latest album Skulk and Auckland By Numbers.

While Steve has never visited New Zealand before, James Taylor has. While here his guitarist, Michael Landau, was inspired by Auckland to write a piece about it and Steve will add his own unique beat to it.

Included in the impressive line-up of artists is saxophonist colossus, James Carter. Down Beat magazine’s Critics and Readers have chosen him for their baritone saxophonist award several years in a row.

Jazz Times adds its voice to his credentials by claiming he’s “cemented his reputation as one of the most adventurous, visionary young saxophonists.”

While in New Zealand Steve, James and Rodger will hold educational workshops in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Steve Gadd, with guest artist James Carter and the Rodger Fox Big Band, performs at The Bruce Mason Centre on October 21 at 8pm.

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