With a resume that boasts sessions
and tours with the likes of Chick
Corea to Eric Clapton to Steely Dan to
Paul McCartney to James Taylor to
Paul Simon to you-name them,
Steve Gadd has put his indelible stamp
on rock, jazz, blues, fusion and pop.
If there's a form of music he hasn't
played, chances are it hasn't yet
been invented.
DR. STEVE GADD
JOHN BECK
"From the moment I heard
him play, I knew he was special...
and he never let me down.
Forty-four years ago, I walked
into Levis music store in Rochester,
New York to hear this kid play
snare drum...standing in
the corner of the studio was
a young man in front of a
drum pad with a pair of snare
drum sticks in his hands. I
said play something for me...
he did and from that moment
on, I knew he was special...
that young man
was Steve Gadd.
Here is a memory of
Steve's Eastman School of Music
Performer's Certificate/Senior
Recital performed on February
16, 1968 in Kilbourn Hall: Most
recitals are attended by a small
number of students. For Steve’s
recital, the 450 seat Kilbourn
Hall was standing room only. The
featured work on the program
was The Eleventh Commandment
(Thou Shall Swing) by Chuck
Mangione. Some of the players
in the piece were: Vincent Dimartino,
Gerald Niewood and Tony Levin.
It was conducted by Chuck
Mangione. It was a big success.
On a personal note: Steve
has accomplished a lot. He did
it in a style that i admire...he
did it musically, drumistically
and with a sense of humility.
He was not out to show how well
he can play...but he put the music
first...put it in the pocket...
and that is to be admired
in today's chops-conscious
world."
-John Beck
