- Ralph Peterson, Jr.
Ralph Peterson, Jr. (b.
May 20 ,1962 ,Pleasantville, New Jersey ) is an Americanjazz drummer and bandleader.Four of Peterson's uncles and his grandfather were all drummers, and Peterson himself began on percussion at age three. He was raised in
Atlantic City , where he playedtrumpet in high school and worked locally infunk groups. He applied toLivingston College , Rutgers, for drums but failed the percussion entrance exam, and enrolled as a trumpeter instead. In 1983, he joinedArt Blakey 's Jazz messengers as the second drummer, playing with him for several years. He worked withTerence Blanchard andDonald Harrison in 1984, and withWalter Davis (1985, 1989),Tom Harrell (1985),Out of the Blue (1985-88),Branford Marsalis (1986), David Murray, Craig Harris (1987),James Spaulding (1988),Roy Hargrove (1989),Jon Faddis (1989),Dewey Redman andMark Helias (1989), andWynton Marsalis (with theCount Basie ghost band).In the 1990s, Peterson played as a sideman with
Jack Walrath ,Craig Handy , Charles Lloyd,Kip Hanrahan (1992),Bheki Mseleku ,Courtney Pine ,Steve Coleman ,George Colligan ,Stanley Cowell ,Mark Shim , andBetty Carter . He began recording as a leader around 1988, with a quintet V, or Volition, with Terence Blanchard,Steve Wilson ,Geri Allen , andPhil Bowler . He also worked with Allen and Bowler as a trio in Triangular;Essiet Essiet replaced Bowler for their 1988 recording. In 1989 he recorded in quartet format as Fo'tet, withDon Byron ,Steve Wilson (laterBobby Franchesini ),Melissa Slocum (laterBelden Bullock ), andBryan Carrott . After living inCanada for some time he returned toPhiladelphia , where he worked further with Fo'Tet and also recorded as Triangular Too with Slocum andUri Caine . He also led a group Hip Pocket, with whom he played trumpet.Peterson has taught at Philadelphia's
University of the Arts .Discography as leader
*"Triangular" (
Blue Note Records , 1988)
*"V" (Blue Note, 1988)
*"Volition" (Blue Note, 1989)
*"Ralph Peterson Presents the Fo'tet" (Blue Note, 1989)
*"Ornettology" (Somethin' Else , 1990)
*"Art" (Blue Note, 1992)
*"The Reclamation Project" (Evidence Records , 1994)
*"Fo'tet Plays Monk" (Evidence, 1995)
*"Back to Stay" (Sirocco Jazz , 2000)
*"Triangular 2" (Sirocco Jazz, 2000)
*"The Art of War" (Criss Cross Jazz , 2001)
*"Subliminal Seduction" (Criss Cross, 2002)
*"Test of Time" (Criss Cross, 2003)
*"Fo'tet Augmented" (Criss Cross, 2004)References
*Gary W. Kennedy, "Ralph Peterson, Jr.". "Grove Jazz" online.
*Scott Yanow , [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifwxqy5ldke~T2 Ralph Peterson] atAllmusic
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