About WGD
Samantha Slater
Hello and welcome to ‘The World’s Greatest Drummer’ official website.
Over the last four years we have pulled together some of the finest drummers to perform in one concert. The World’s Greatest Drummer concert is a tip of the hat to the forefathers of modern drumming including but not limited to Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Max Roach, Gene Krupa and one of my wonderful drumset teachers, the late Joe Morello. ‘The World’s Greatest Drummer’ was a term I heard used by Ronnie Scott in his introduction of Buddy Rich at one of his many visits to the great London based jazz club. Although difficult to define ‘the greatest’ as music obviously and indeed drumming is wholly subjective, I did find the description highly emotive.
Thanks to my friend Pete Cater who brings along his most amazing orchestra, a stellar cast of the UK’s leading musicians from the session and jazz world, I know you are just going to love this year’s concert. I am delighted to welcome Samantha Slater on board for this year’s concert. Having been editor of a leading drum magazine, she knows drums and drummers and her help is invaluable in organising such a huge but exciting event. Thanks also goes to my friend Steve White (Paul Weller, Oasis, The Who) who has been a regular at this event since the very first concert in 2007 and has been an invaluable source of support! I love the spectacle of seeing all these great drummers play ‘live’ music, ‘in context’ but in an unusual and exciting genre! In the past we have featured some of the world’s greatest in their own right including Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Neal Wilkinson (James Morrison), Gary Husband (John McLaughlin), Jeremy Stacey (Sheryl Crow), Jon Brookes (The Charlatans), Karl Brazil (Robbie Williams), Neil Bullock and Garry Allcock. This year is no exception as we keep the bar well and truly a loft and present some new drummers in addition to familiar faces in this concert. Steve Smith joins us from the States along with Steve Barney, Pete Ray Biggin and Jake Brown, all new fresh additions to the WGD Concert.
It always surprises me just how amazing all these world class drummers who join us sound, particularly as in most cases they are mainly by their own ‘humble’ admittance… out of their comfort zones! I am so grateful for the enthusiasm shown by everyone with this concert and it really is the drumming communities’ way of giving something back. To see people suffering with cancer is really tough. I know this as I lost my parents to this awful disease recently. In fact the last time my parents saw me perform together was the last World’s Greatest Drummer Concert in 2009 when I was so proud to share the stage and play alongside my dear friends Neal Wilkinson and Jeremy Stacey. The memory will stay with me forever. It always leaves a lump in my throat and drives an unbending conviction to do my best for those less fortunate through any skills with which I have been blessed. To see children suffering in such an awful way is quite simply heartbreaking. I am so, so pleased to be able to support Teenage Cancer Trust through this concert in addition to Dyslexia Action. The profits from this concert go directly to these charities.
For those of you that have supported us before, thank you. I do hope that you can join us on 6th November 2011 at Warwick Arts Centre for the World’s Greatest Drummer Concert 2011. Your support is valued so much by us and our charities and I know that you will just be blown away by the performances.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Palmer
Over the last four years we have pulled together some of the finest drummers to perform in one concert. The World’s Greatest Drummer concert is a tip of the hat to the forefathers of modern drumming including but not limited to Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Max Roach, Gene Krupa and one of my wonderful drumset teachers, the late Joe Morello. ‘The World’s Greatest Drummer’ was a term I heard used by Ronnie Scott in his introduction of Buddy Rich at one of his many visits to the great London based jazz club. Although difficult to define ‘the greatest’ as music obviously and indeed drumming is wholly subjective, I did find the description highly emotive.
Thanks to my friend Pete Cater who brings along his most amazing orchestra, a stellar cast of the UK’s leading musicians from the session and jazz world, I know you are just going to love this year’s concert. I am delighted to welcome Samantha Slater on board for this year’s concert. Having been editor of a leading drum magazine, she knows drums and drummers and her help is invaluable in organising such a huge but exciting event. Thanks also goes to my friend Steve White (Paul Weller, Oasis, The Who) who has been a regular at this event since the very first concert in 2007 and has been an invaluable source of support! I love the spectacle of seeing all these great drummers play ‘live’ music, ‘in context’ but in an unusual and exciting genre! In the past we have featured some of the world’s greatest in their own right including Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Neal Wilkinson (James Morrison), Gary Husband (John McLaughlin), Jeremy Stacey (Sheryl Crow), Jon Brookes (The Charlatans), Karl Brazil (Robbie Williams), Neil Bullock and Garry Allcock. This year is no exception as we keep the bar well and truly a loft and present some new drummers in addition to familiar faces in this concert. Steve Smith joins us from the States along with Steve Barney, Pete Ray Biggin and Jake Brown, all new fresh additions to the WGD Concert.
It always surprises me just how amazing all these world class drummers who join us sound, particularly as in most cases they are mainly by their own ‘humble’ admittance… out of their comfort zones! I am so grateful for the enthusiasm shown by everyone with this concert and it really is the drumming communities’ way of giving something back. To see people suffering with cancer is really tough. I know this as I lost my parents to this awful disease recently. In fact the last time my parents saw me perform together was the last World’s Greatest Drummer Concert in 2009 when I was so proud to share the stage and play alongside my dear friends Neal Wilkinson and Jeremy Stacey. The memory will stay with me forever. It always leaves a lump in my throat and drives an unbending conviction to do my best for those less fortunate through any skills with which I have been blessed. To see children suffering in such an awful way is quite simply heartbreaking. I am so, so pleased to be able to support Teenage Cancer Trust through this concert in addition to Dyslexia Action. The profits from this concert go directly to these charities.
For those of you that have supported us before, thank you. I do hope that you can join us on 6th November 2011 at Warwick Arts Centre for the World’s Greatest Drummer Concert 2011. Your support is valued so much by us and our charities and I know that you will just be blown away by the performances.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Palmer