Jazz Café is proud to present the last of its Jazz Master Series’ for this season with premier drummer and band leader, Ralph Peterson and his Sextet with two nights with two rousing sets per night, Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM.
The theme of the Jazz Café shows will be tributes to legendary drummers, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams and legendary band leader, Art Blakey, whom Peterson played drums for nearly 10 years.
For over 25 years, Ralph Peterson has been one of the distinctive and recognizable drummers in jazz. His talent and drive as a drummer, composer, arranger and bandleader set him apart as a Master among his peers. In 1980, Ralph was accepted into the Jazz Studies program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Hailing from a family of drummers (four uncles and a grandfather) Peterson originally played trumpet in High School, and upon failing the percussion entrance exam at Rutgers, he enrolled in Brass as a trumpeter instead. However in 1983 Peterson met master drummer Art Blakey. A few months after sitting in, Blakey called Peterson (then a college junior) to play along side him in his two-drummer big band. Ralph continued in the Jazz Messenger Big Band until Blakey’s passing. Peterson takes seriously the honor and responsibility of being the “Last Messenger Drummer” and later paid homage to Blakey on his 1992 recording “Art”.
In 1989 he recorded in quartet format as Fo'tet, with Don Byron, Steve Wilson (later Bobby Franchesini, Melissa Slocum (later Belden Bullock), and Bryan Carrott.
Peterson has also worked and recorded with jazz legends like, Terrence Blanchard, Branford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, David Murray, The Count Basie Orchestra, Betty Carter, and Michael Brecker. He has also kept his innovative group together for over 18 years.
Muscular and funky, Peterson’s style is both identifiable and innovative. His background in both percussion and brass, plus his Funk leanings, make for a hard swinging, yet groove-oriented mélange. So it should come as no surprise that Peterson has been channeling John Coltrane as of late. Free-swinging, yet grounded in the melody, Ralph Peterson leads his sidemen into sometime uncharted, yet fascinating territories.
For the Jazz Café gigs, Peterson brings a powerhouse lineup which includes, Orrin Evans on piano, Luques Curtis on bass, Duane Eubanks (Kevin’s younger brother) on trumpet, Stacey Dillard on tenor and soprano saxes, Jaleel Shaw on alto sax and Peterson on drums.
Helpful link: http://www.myspace.com/ralphpetersonmusic
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Available at Music Hall Box Office (313) 887-8500 or Ticketmaster.com
Jazz Café at Music Hall
350 Madison Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226
313 887-8532
www.jazzcafedetroit.com
www.musichall.org
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