Biography
Dave Weckl stands among fusion's most celebrated drummers thanks to the six years he spent alongside Chick Corea. Born in St. Louis, he absorbed soul and jazz from an early age, acquired his first drum kit at eight, and honed his technique through close study of Buddy Rich alongside R&B rhythms. Although he pursued a jazz major at the University of Bridgeport, he departed after two years to immerse himself in New York's jazz community and to tour Europe with assorted ensembles. Membership in the fusion outfit Nitesprite brought him to the notice of Peter Erskine, who secured him a position in French Toast alongside pianist Michel Camilo and bassist Anthony Jackson.
Session opportunities soon multiplied; throughout the early 1980s Weckl appeared on dates with Bill Connors of Return to Forever, the Brecker Brothers, Tânia Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Eliane Elias, and George Benson, as well as pop and soul projects for Diana Ross, Madonna, and Robert Plant. In 1986 Chick Corea heard him during a New York performance with Connors and recruited him for the newly formed Elektric Band. Over the ensuing seven years Weckl contributed to multiple Corea recordings while also performing with the Akoustic Band; his reputation grew steadily, allowing him to sustain an active sideman schedule and frequent appearances with the GRP All-Star Big Band. He simultaneously issued a series of instructional videos and, in 1990, made his debut as a leader with the GRP album Master Plan. Heads Up arrived in 1992 and Hard-Wired in 1994.
After parting ways with Corea, Weckl concentrated primarily on recording and touring with guitarist Mike Stern while maintaining an extensive roster of sideman engagements. In 1998 he returned to his childhood affinity for R&B with the album Rhythm of the Soul, followed by the similarly oriented Synergy in 1999. By the release of Transition in 2000 the Dave Weckl Band had coalesced into a tight unit, yet Weckl continued his educational output with the 2001 recording The Zone.
He subsequently assembled his own quartet featuring saxophonist Brandon Fields, keyboardist Steve Weingart, and bassist Tom Kennedy; the group debuted on the improvisation-focused Perpetual Motion in 2002. Multiplicity appeared in 2005 with Gary Meek replacing Fields on saxophone. In the years that followed, Weckl contributed to projects by Jeff Lorber, Mike Stern, Chuck Loeb, and numerous additional artists. He reunited with trumpeter Randy Brecker for the 2013 album The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion and later recorded with Andreas Varady, Lee Ritenour, and Wayne Bergeron. In 2017 he joined a host of longtime Chick Corea collaborators for the live anthology The Musician.
Session opportunities soon multiplied; throughout the early 1980s Weckl appeared on dates with Bill Connors of Return to Forever, the Brecker Brothers, Tânia Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Eliane Elias, and George Benson, as well as pop and soul projects for Diana Ross, Madonna, and Robert Plant. In 1986 Chick Corea heard him during a New York performance with Connors and recruited him for the newly formed Elektric Band. Over the ensuing seven years Weckl contributed to multiple Corea recordings while also performing with the Akoustic Band; his reputation grew steadily, allowing him to sustain an active sideman schedule and frequent appearances with the GRP All-Star Big Band. He simultaneously issued a series of instructional videos and, in 1990, made his debut as a leader with the GRP album Master Plan. Heads Up arrived in 1992 and Hard-Wired in 1994.
After parting ways with Corea, Weckl concentrated primarily on recording and touring with guitarist Mike Stern while maintaining an extensive roster of sideman engagements. In 1998 he returned to his childhood affinity for R&B with the album Rhythm of the Soul, followed by the similarly oriented Synergy in 1999. By the release of Transition in 2000 the Dave Weckl Band had coalesced into a tight unit, yet Weckl continued his educational output with the 2001 recording The Zone.
He subsequently assembled his own quartet featuring saxophonist Brandon Fields, keyboardist Steve Weingart, and bassist Tom Kennedy; the group debuted on the improvisation-focused Perpetual Motion in 2002. Multiplicity appeared in 2005 with Gary Meek replacing Fields on saxophone. In the years that followed, Weckl contributed to projects by Jeff Lorber, Mike Stern, Chuck Loeb, and numerous additional artists. He reunited with trumpeter Randy Brecker for the 2013 album The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion and later recorded with Andreas Varady, Lee Ritenour, and Wayne Bergeron. In 2017 he joined a host of longtime Chick Corea collaborators for the live anthology The Musician.
Albums
