[Dixielandjazz] Freddie Gruber - RIP

[SargentDrums at aol.com]

Famed jazz drummer Freddie Gruber -- who taught  and influenced a 
generation of rock drummers -- died Oct. 11 in Los Angeles  after a lengthy illness. 
He was 84.

According to DrummerWorld, Gruber got  his start in New York during the 
be-bop era, performing with the late Charlie  Parker and became a roommate and 
longtime friend of drumming legend Buddy  Rich.

Gruber was also responsible for helping Rush drummer Neil Peart  "reinvent" 
his style in the 1990s. "He was easy you know because he wasn't  nuts," 
Gruber said of meeting Peart in a clip from the band's 2010 documentary  'Rush: 
Beyond the Lighted Stage.' "It was fun. We didn't have to go to some  
strange land."

The musician also taught and influenced the likes of Frank  Zappa drummer 
Vinnie Colaiuta, Journey's Steve Smith and Chick Corea drummer  Dave Weckl 
along with acclaimed session drummers such as Jim Keltner, Kenny  Aronoff and 
Anton Fig.

"Dispensing the Zen-like wisdom of Yoda with the  caustic delivery of Don 
Rickles, Freddie has enlightened and altered the playing  habits of countless 
students..." JazzTimes said of Gruber in a 2004  interview.

In 2010, cymbal manufacturers Zildjian presented Gruber with a  lifetime 
achievement award.

Although Peart has made no statement yet  regarding Gruber's passing, other 
drummers and even Pearl Drum Corporation took  to Twitter to express their 
condolences.

"We lost the great master drum  teacher," Mark Schulman (Pink, Cher, Billy 
Idol) tweeted. "He taught me twice in  my life and has been a mentor and 
inspiration...RIP."  




Bill Sargent
BillSargent.com
414-777-0100