Grady Tate
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Grady Tate, (born January 14, 1932 in Durham, North Carolina), is a hard bop and soul-jazz drummer. He has played with Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stanley Turrentine, Charles Earland, Quincy Jones, Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith, Stan Getz as well as many other famous jazz artists. Grady Tate was the drummer on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for six years. He has been on the faculty of Howard University since 1989.
[edit] Drumming style
Grady Tate’s drumming helped to define a particular hard bop, soul jazz and organ trio sound during the mid 1960's and beyond. His slick, layered and intense sound is instantly recognizable for its understated style in which he integrates his trademark subtle nuances with sharp, crisp "on top of the beat" timing (in comparison to playing slightly before, or slightly after the beat). The Grady Tate sound can be heard prominently on the many classic Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery albums recorded on the Verve label in the 1960’s. Grady Tate's popularity as choice sideman of accomplished musicians is due to his remarkable intuitiveness and ability to make any style of music swing tastefully, and his interpretation of many different genres of music, in which he creates his own unique style of jazz grooves- i.e: latin jazz, reggae jazz, rock jazz, funk jazz, etc. One album that demonstrates Mr. Tate's mastering of several musical styles may be heard on Jimmy Smith's "Go For Whatcha Know" (1986), which also features a vocal track by Grady Tate. An example of his virtuosic drumming abilities may be heard on Stan Getz's "Sweet Rain" (1967).
[edit] Vocalist
Mr. Tate is also a vocalist. Among his most widely heard vocal performances are the songs "I Got Six" and "Naughty Number Nine" for Multiplication Rock, part of the Schoolhouse Rock series. Mr. Tate has a wonderful baritone voice and has released many albums as a vocalist.
