Receipient of the 2002 IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education) HUMANITARIAN AWARD, the IFPI (International Federation of Phonagraph Industry) 2002 Danish Jazz Awards and also Inducted into The PAS (Percussive Arts Society) HALL OF FAME.
World-renown for his exemplary musicianship, his artistry with wire brushes, and his highly effective teaching methods, Ed Thigpen is admired by musicians and critics alike as one of the finest peerformer/educators in jazz.
Born in Chicago December 28, 1930, Edmund Thigpen grew up in Los Angeles where he attended Thomas Jefferson High School, whose alumni include artists such as Dexter Gorden, Chico Hamilton and Art Farmer, There he got his practical experience in the schools swing band under the guidance of the revered teacher Samuel Browne.
After graduating from high school in 1949, he entered Los Angeles City college as a sociology major but left after a year to pursue a career in music. He then moved to St. Louis, Mo. to live with his father, drummer Ben Thigpen, well-known for his work with the Andy Kirk band in the 1930s and ´40s. In 1951 Ed moved to New York City where he joined the Cootie Williams band at the Savoy Ballroom. He traveled throughout the United States with this band along with many of the well-known rhythm and blues vocal groups of the period.
After a two year stint in the army, 1952/53, Ed joined Dinah Washington followed by a short period with Johnny Hodges, continuing to tour extensively throughout the U.S.
In 1955 he again took up residence in N.Y.C. and enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music for a semester while playing free-lance gigs around the city with the avant-garde group of Gil Mellé, and the trios of Bud Powell, Jutta Hipp and Toshiko Akiyoshi
In 1957 he joined The Billy Taylor Trio and during this period began to gain wider recognition though his performances with this trio in concerts, nightclubs, recording studios and on the television series The Subject is Jazz, He also became a clinician for the Ludwig drum company.
In 1959 he joined The Oscar Peterson Trio while continuing as an instructor at The Advanced School of Conteporary Music (founded by Oscar Peterson, bassist Ray Brown and composer Phil Nimmons in Toronto, Canada). That same year both he and Elvin Jones received the "New Star on Drums" in the Down Beat jazz critic's poll.
The Trio is still considered today by many musicians and jazz historians to be the greatest piano/bass/drums trio in the history of jazz. Ed recorded more than 5o albums with Peterson before leaving the group in 1965 to tour with Ella Fitzgerald. During this period Ed also found time to work with many artists such as Gene Ammons, Teddy Edwards, Donald Byrd, Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Howard McGhee and Milt Jackson amongst others.
In 1967, Ed settled in Los Angeles to do freelance work.
Musicians such as The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, Johnny Mathis, Pat Boone, Charles Brown, Andy Williams, Peggy Lee, Oliver Nelson and Gerald Wilson were just a few of the artists he was able to work with. In late 1968, Ed rejoined Ella Fitzgerald in a trio led by Tommy Flanagan. Ed remained with Ella until September 1972, when he settled in Denmark.
Europe: 1972 to present:
With Copenhagen as his base, he has continued his work as both a performer and educator, performing with both European and American artists such as singers Richard Boone, Helen Humes, K.D. Lang, Sylvia Vrethammer, Debrah Brown, Barbara Hendricks, Alice Babs and throughout the continent with Kenny Drew, Sven Asmussen, Ernie Wilkins, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander and Thad Jones. He founded his own group, Action-Reaction, and also continued working as a teacher and clinician, giving courses on jazz percussion at the Music Högskolan in Sweden. Presently Ed gives courses at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen. Ed has written and published five books, including Ed Thigpen Talking Drums; a collaboration with Ray Brown called Be Our Guest; Rhythm Analysis and Basic co-ordination, and The Sound of Brushes. The most recent is a manual titled Rhythm Brought to Life. He has made two instruction videos, Ed Thigpen on Jazz Drumming and The Essence of Brushes.
Though he still has his main residence in Copenhagen, Ed in recent years has been traveling extensively within the United States and Canada, as well as Europe, leading his own groups and performing as a featured artist with others. He also continues to conduct clinics and seminars throughout the world.updated: January 2007 (source : edthigpen.com + others)
DISCOGRAPHY:
1966 Out Of The Storm (Verve) - Ed Thigpen Featuring - cd
1973 Resource (Stunt Records - reissue) - The Asmussen Thigpen Quartet - cd
1974 Action-re-action (Stunt Records - reissue) - Ed Thigpen's Action-re-ation - cd
1990 Easy Flight (Reaction/Reckless) - Ed Thigpen Ensemble - cd
1990 Young Men & Olds (Timeless) - Ed Thigpen - cd
1991 Mr. Taste (Justin Time) - The Ed Thigpen Trio - cd
1996 Masquerade Is Over (Meldac Jazz) Trio Supreme - cd
1998 It's Entertainment (Stunt/Sundance) - Rhythm Features - cd
1999 Three Impacts (Meldac Jazz) Trio Supreme - cd
2001 A Time For Love (M&I) Trio Supreme - cd
2002 The Element Of Swing (Stunt/Sundance) - Rhythm Features - cd
2004 Nr. 1 (Stunt/Sundance) - Scantet - cd
Books/Instructional:
1963 Ed Thigpen & Ray Brown : Be Our Guest - out of print
1965 Ed Thigpen Talking Drums - out of print (to be revised)
1977 Rhythm Analysis and Basic Coordination - out of print (basis for "Rhythm Brought To Life")
1991 The Essence Of Brushes DVD
1999 The Sound Of Brushes (book + 2-cds)
2000 Ryhthm Brought to Life: A New Academic Approach
2000 Ryhthm Brought to Life: A Rhythmic Primer : Teacher's Manual