Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times ART BLAKEY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION at Dizzy’s Club (Oct. 7-12, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.). Blakey is remembered equally for the thunderous power of his drumming and for his influence on future generations; for over three decades, his Jazz Messengers remained a proving ground for premier young musicians. In recognition of what would have … Read More
Jazziz Ralph Peterson was one of two drummers to perform with The Jazz Messengers, having been hand-picked by Blakey as the second drummer in the legendary bandleader’s Jazz Messenger Big Band, in which he served until Blakey’s death in 1990. Peterson’s résumé includes more than 150 albums as a sideman, with credits on albums by … Read More
Sascha Feinstein, Jazziz This two-CD tribute to Art Blakey, recorded live over two nights in 2018 at the Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut, does justice to its honoree’s high standards. Ralph Peterson, the last drummer to perform side-by-side with his mentor, united five alums of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers: tenor saxophonist Billy Pierce, … Read More
R.J. Deluke, All About Jazz “Drumming is as natural to me as breathing.” —Ralph Peterson Drummer Ralph Peterson has been on the jazz scene for some 35 years or more, carving out a career as a performer and an educator that would be the envy of many. His main influence is the legendary Art Blakey, and … Read More
Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times G. Calvin Weston, ‘Dust and Ash’ Ralph Peterson, ‘Blues March’ Both of these drummers are in their late 50s, each boasts a hard-charging, wall-shaking style, and they both have new albums out today. In the 1980s Peterson was apprenticed to the straight-ahead jazz icon Art Blakey, while Weston was … Read More
Mike Jurkovic, All About Jazz Recorded loud and live at the Side Door Jazz Club in Old Lyme, CT, Ralph Peterson—the last drummer to play side-by-side with the incomparable Art Blakey—delivers an unstoppable two-disc hyperdrive swing-fest celebration of his mentor with Legacy Alive, Volume 6 at the Side Door. Read more here.
Michael Jewett, WEMU Drummer Ralph Peterson Brings his Art Blakey tribute to the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor this weekend. He joins 89.1 WEMU’s Michael Jewett for music and conversation. LISTEN HERE!
