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an image to return to the tributes main page.
Click
here to see Ralph Peterson The Messenger Legacy (featuring Jean
Toussaint)
@ the Cadogan Hall, 2019.
20 May 1962 – 1 March 2021
Drummer, Ralph Peterson Jr. passed away following a six-year
battle with cancer, according to his publicist, Lydia Liebman.
The Messenger Legacy is an elite line-up of alumni members of one
of Jazz’ most influential bands, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.
The current configuration is Bobby Watson, Essiet Essiet, Geoff
Keezer, Brian Lynch, Bill Pierce and at the drums, the last drummer
chosen by Art Blakey to play at his side in the Jazz Messenger 2
Drummer Big Band Ralph Peterson. Bobby Watson and Bill Pierce were
present the night Peterson first sat in with the band at Mikell’s
and was a mainstay from the late 70’s through the early mid
80’s. Essiet Essiet was brought to Art Blakey by recommendations
of Ralph Peterson and Bobby Watrson. Geoff Keezer and Brian Lynch
joined what turned out to be the last edition of The Messengers
before Art Blakey’s passing.
Arguably, no other drummer is more qualified than Peterson to lead
a band with such depth. Thirty years ago, Peterson, then a fresh-faced
21 year-old chosen to play by Blakey as a Messenger in the 1983
version of The Jazz Messenger two drummer Big Band and learned first-hand
from Buhaina himself. Peterson remained the 2nd drummer in the Big
Band until Blakey’s passing. Depending on availability other
Jazz Messenger who have done and would be available would include
Donald Harrison, Craig Handy, Robin Eubanks, Kumba Frank Lacy, Phillip
Harper, Johnny O’neal, Donald Brown and sometimes even Reggie
Workman who joined Art in 1962 the year Peterson was born. Mr Workman
also played in the inaugural Messenger Legacy concert.
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