For more than 45 years, Ralph Peterson has been one of the distinctive and recognizable drummers in jazz. Besides his incomparable talent behind the drum kit, which has led to collaborations with the likes of Terence Blanchard, Branford Marsalis, David Murray, Roy Hargrove, Michael Brecker, Regina Belle, Betty Carter and The Roots in a career that spans almost 35 years – not to mention being hand-picked by Art Blakey as the second drummer in the legendary bandleader’s Jazz Messenger Big Band until Blakey’s 1990 death.
In a varied and prodigious career whose span encompassed three decades, percussionist-composer Ralph Peterson Jr. has never stopped expanding horizons for the hard-bop idiom he helped revive.
Ralph Peterson was now at the intersection where his influence on modern jazz is undeniable and constant. He has been on more then 150 other CD’s as a sideman. His list of students constitute a who’s who of today’s amazing up and coming drummers like Ari Hoenig, E.J Strickland, Tyshawn Sorey, Mark Whitfield Jr., Kush Abadey and Justin Faulkner and many more.
He was Full Professor of Percussion at Berklee College of Music.
Mr. Peterson also remained in high demand as an educator did workshops and clinics with the support of his endorsers Mapex Drums, Meinl Cymbals, Evans Drumheads and Vic Firth Stick and Brushes.
Ralph Peterson died March 1, 2021. The cause were some complications from cancer. Ralph Peterson had been living with the disease these last 5 years – R. I. P.
