Steve Gadd hasn’t released a solo project in 22 years. As one of the most in demand drummers of the last fifty years, he has stayed more than busy, but he felt it was time to write and produce a set for himself.
For those who aren’t familiar with Gadd, his resume includes recording and touring with a list of artists including Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Jon Bon Jovi and many more. It is Gadd’s drumming that you hear on Paul Simon’s 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover and Late in the Evening, Steely Dan’s Aja and Van McCoy’s The Hustle.
For the new album, Gadditude, he has assembled a veteran group of musicians who will all fall under the name The Steve Gadd Band:
- Larry Goldings (keyboards) – Has worked with India.Arie, Tracy Chapman, Walter Becker, Robben Ford, Leon Russell, Rickie Lee Jones, John Mayer, Norah Jones
- Jimmy Johnson (bass) – Has worked with James Taylor, Lee Ritenour, Flim & the BB’s, Allan Holdworth
- Walt Fowler (trumpet, flugelhorn) – Has worked with Frank Zappa, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Andy Summers, James Brown, James Taylor, Edgar Winter
- Michael Landau (guitar) – Has worked with Michael Jackson, Seal, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd, Miles Davis
James Taylor has released a statement on his website in support of his friend’s project:
“The happiest result of my moderate success is and has been the company of these, my musical brothers. To have them play my music is a great joy and an honor, no lie, and I thank my lucky stars. Now I’ve finally taken a year off to write; which is overdue, but frankly, I worry.
Kim rides me mercilessly when I carry on like an aging hipster, but it’s true: Cats must gig….will some other headliner boost my band? Will somebody slip his mooring and drift away with the tide?
How perfect, then, that they have chosen this time to play their own collaborations and put down this excellent side. Gadditude is consensus co-arrangement, as only true masters of the art can achieve it. So they stay tight, and loose, and they endure. Now I worry will they find another lead singer?
Everyday I have the blues…”
James Taylor
June 13, 2013
Gadd’s last solo studio album was 1991’s Gadd Gang.
