Where does one start with Steve Gadd?The man is modern day legend for all drummers, aspiring or professional. His body of work is phenomenal with a tally of over 600 albums to his name. A tireless drummer, teacher and entertainer the same Steve Gadd is synonymous with Drumming. Having worked with such names as Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton and James Taylor its easy to see why Steve Gadd has become recognised as one of most well known session drummer around.
Steve was born on April 9, 1945 in Rochester, New York. Even from a young age his talent was evident. By age seven Steve was encourage by his uncle also a drummer with the US army to take drum lessons with Elmer Frolig at Levis Music. By age eleven Steve’s talent had become so recognised that he was given the opportunity to sit in with Dizzy Gillespie.
Upon graduated from Irondequiot’s Eastridge High School, Steve attended the Manhattan School of Music for two years, after which he transferred to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, playing in a wind ensemble and concert band. Steve could often be seen playing club gigs with other musicians like Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione and Joe Romano. After Steve had finished his time in college he played regularly with Chuck Mangione.
Having spent over three years with a military band in the U.S Army, Steve went back to play he knew best. Rochester. Playing with a well known band from the area at the time Gadd joined forces with Mike Holmes and Tony Levin, travelling to New York with them. The band did eventually part ways but Steve had begun to work as a session drummer. Steve had also played with Chick Corea but left the group as we wanted to concentrate on session drumming instead of being with a touring band.
The 70’s and 80’s saw Steve Gadd tour all around the world, recording with Paul Simon and Al Di Meola’s Electric Rendezvous Band. Notably, in 1976, Steve Gadd and other in demand session musicians in New York City, including Eric Gale, Richard Tee and Cornell Dupree, formed the group Stuff. Their work included appearances on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, performing on their own and playing back up for Joe Cocker.
As the 70’s drew to a close, it became clear that Steve Gadd was one of the most influential and high demand sessions drummers in the world. As far away as Japan, saw transcriptions of his drumming on sale. Steve showed much of this talent in his work with Steely Dan on the title track to Steely’s classic Aja album, as well as his work with Chick Corea on the jazz albums Friends and Three Quartets.
Steve’s own influences are drummers like Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Tony Williams and Elvin Jones.