Jazz Gallery
Soul / Gospel & World gallery
Essential Listening
Tributes
Gig Guide / News
Opinion / Music Talk
The Hi Fi Experience
Related services
Related Sites & Info
Sales
Staff Profiles
Guest Feedback
Contact M V Studio
Back to Home Page

 

 

 

Click to return to the tributes main page

Ralph Peterson
Click to return to the tributes main page

Click 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.


Click to return to the tributes main page


Recommended
Listening


Legacy Live

 

Further
Recommended
Viewing

Click the image below to view Ralph Peterson: The Messenger Legacy (featuring Jean Toussaint) 2019

Ralph Peterson: The Messenger Legacy (featuring Jean Toussaint) 2019 (Click to go to this page)

  Go back to the tributes main page.

[ Top ]