Chris Dave and the Drumhedz – US Tour
Debut Self-Titled Album Out Now on Blue Note
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz have embarked on a US tour. Led by drummer, composer, and bandleader Chris Dave, the Drumhedz recently released their debut album on Blue Note Records, earning praise from NPR Music, The New York Times, Billboard, Uproxx, Okayplayer, Fusicology and Afropunk.
Chris Dave has drummed for everyone from Adele to Bieber and Dolly to D’Angelo; Questlove once described Chris as his “worst nightmare” and Rolling Stone named him one of the100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. The Drumhedz is a family of musicians whose credits coil like ivy around nearly every pillar of modern sound. It’s a place without genre, where elements of funk, soul, gospel, hip-hop and jazz mix until they’re an indistinguishable surging mass of solid groove.
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz is an album Chris has been building toward his entire life. He first reached for the sticks at 3, hoping to hit skins for his brothers’ funk group. He was denied, but found his second chance at church, initially on percussion. By the time Chris hit middle school, he was drumming for Houston choirs backing singers like Kim Burrell and Yolanda Adams. He attended the revered High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, then received a full ride to Howard University, but dropped out to join Mint Condition. After that the work started pouring in, playing sessions with Lionel Richie, Mary J., and Kenny Garrett. In studios, on tour and in private, he was perfecting his style.
Highlights from Detroit Jazz Fest Labor Day Weekend 2018:
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Chris’ need to absorb all he heard paid off – from 2009 to 2012, he worked on three Grammy-winning albums across three genres: Maxwell’s BLACKsummer’snight, Adele’s 21, and the Robert Glasper Experiment’s Black Radio. In the personnel credits for those LPs, you’ll find the foundation of the Drumhedz.
There are nearly 50 Drumhedz on the album, spanning core crew like Pino Palladino (bass), Isaiah Sharkey (guitar), Cleo “Pookie” Sample (keys), Sir Darryl Farris (vocals) and Keyon Harrold (horn), to old familiars like James Poyser (the Roots), Stokley Williams (Mint Condition) and Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), to fresh guests like Anderson .Paak, Bilal, SiR, Anna Wise, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Elzhi and Phonte Coleman.
With all their otherworldly ability, the Drumhedz are who they are because of connection. At the end of the day, they’re the cats who came together. And because they did, you might be a Drumhed too.
9/5 Lansing, MI @ The Loft
9/6 Chicago, IL @ Promontory
9/8 Louisville, KY @ Jimmy Can’t Dance
9/9 St. Louis, MO @ BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups
9/12 New Orleans, LA @ Cafe Istanbul
9/14 Austin, TX @ One2one
9/18 Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn’s
9/20 Omaha, NE @ HiFi House
9/22 Nashville, TN @ The Basement
9/23 Birmingham, AL @ The Nick
9/25 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
9/26 Buffalo, NY @ Imagine Event Center
9/29 Richmond, VA @ The Tin Pan
9/30 Washington, DC @ Union Stage
10/16 Oakland, CA @ The Uptown
10/18 Reno, NV @ The Saint
10/20 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock
10/22 Denver, CO @ Cervantes’ Other Side
