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Dave
Weckl
Dave
Weckl is one of the most respected and talked about
drummers on the scene today. In a very short period
of time, he has gained a reputation amongst his fans
and peers as one of the very finest musicians in contemporary
music.
Born in St. Louis Missouri, January 8th, 1960, with
a mother who loved music and a father who played the
piano for fun, Dave started playing the drums at the
age of 8. During his high school years he received many
awards from the NAG (National Association of Jazz Educators)
for his outstanding performances in his high school's
competition winning jazz band and Dave was also involved
in numerous local groups.
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At
the age of 16 he began to work professionally with local
pop and jazz groups. He moved to the east coast in 1979
to study music at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
While playing the club scene in New York City with a
band called Nite Sprite, Dave started to receive accolades
from established studio musicians such as Steve Kahn,
Michael Brecker, and especially the great drummer Peter
Erskine. It was Peter who recommended Dave for his first
"big gig" in town with a group called French Toast,
later the Michel Camillo band, which has been recorded
quite extensively over the years.
A
member of this group, bass player Anthony Jackson, recommended
Dave for the prestigious Simon and Garfunkel reunion
tour in 1983. After this tour it was not long before
he was regularly being called for radio and TV jingles,
sound track sessions and to recording dates with such
artists as George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Diana Ross and
Robert Plant to name a few.
In 1985 Michael Brecker told Chick Corea to check out
this new young guy in town, Dave Weckl, for his new
"Electric Band". That was the beginning of a 7 year
relationship with both the "Electric" and the "Acoustic"
Bands. They did 9 albums and 3 videos, and the "Acoustic
Band" won a Grammy for the band's first release. It
was also on the "Electric Band's" first recording where
Dave's spectacular drumming and innovative use of combining
electric and acoustic drums, really brought him world
wide recognition.
Dave has since moved on to produce three of his own
recordings to date, "Masterplan", "Heads Up" and "Hardwired",
all available on GRP/MCA records. A fourth release is
due out soon on a new label founded by himself and longtime
friend Jay Oliver. Besides doing occasional session
work in the Los Angeles area, he has been busy the last
few years recording and touring with The Brecker Brothers,
Michel Camillo, Eliane Elias, Steve Kahn and most recently
with the great guitar player from NY, Mike Stern, featuring
the band's latest release "Between The Lines" on Atlantic
records.
Besides his busy playing career, Dave is also very involved
with the teaching aspect of the music business, conducting
many seminars and classes all over the world. He says
"It is my goal to inspire as many young (and not so
young) people as possible to want to play music, whether
it be drums or another instrument. With all the problems
of the world today, I feel this is my way of contributing
a positive action towards spiritual happiness, which
music can be a big part of.
So, parents, if your child has a talent for music, please
allow them the opportunity to develop that talent!".
Dave hopes to participate in opening up a new drum/music
school in the LA area in the near future. He has produced
many instructional video and audio tapes, available
through DCI/Warner Bros. Music.
Equipment used and endorsed by Dave: Yamaha drums; Zildjian
cymbals; Vic Firth Signature sticks, shoes and products;
Remo heads; Shure microphones; May bass drum mounting
system; ddrum electronic drums; XL Specialty cases;
Bagend speakers, LP products.
You
can read more about Dave Weckl at http://daveweckl.com
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