|
|
||
Ndugu Chancler
Ndugu is a consummate drumset artist who believes that diversifying to a range of percussion instruments is healthy musically and career-wise, thus his affiliation with Toca. His approach to percussion owes as much to urban/groove as it does to classical, in that his rock solid time foundation is matched with a propensity to draw many sounds out of a single instrument-conga, shaker or cymbal. Consequently, he maintains a drumkit and percussion configuration large enough to accomplish his musical goals, retaining nothing for mere show. The decentralization of album recording, from inner-city studios to home-based digital workplaces, did not leave Ndugu unprepared. In fact, he was an early convert to the home studio, in which produced and laid down drum/percussion tracks. Ndugu attributes his infectious positive demeanor to a trait he has cultivated for decades-a drive to stay contemporary. One of his means for doing so is teaching, either through clinics (his skills as a clinician are legendary) or as a jazz lecturer at the University of Southern California. Meanwhile, Ndugu continues to write, record, and produce, and sustains his long time relationship with famed keyboardist Patrice Rushen; their works appear on CD and DVD. And Ndugu maintains a dizzying schedule of public appearances. His affability and humility are no doubt major reasons for his longevity in a business that eats its young. Ndugu is not only a survivor; he is a vital contributor.
< Back to the Toca Arists Main Menu
|
Born
in Louisiana as Leon Chancler, this esteemed drummer/percussionist is
now widely known by a single name, his adopted "Ndugu". He
has appeared on the some of the greatest pop albums of all time, including
Michael Jackson's Thriller, in many capacities: session drummer, percussionist,
producer, co-producer, writer, instrumentalist and vocalist. Possibly
Ndugu's greatest asset is his impeccable, seemingly metronomic timing.
Although he had finely tuned technique, touch and taste rank high on
his list of attributes. A rare drummer, he grasps the whole musical picture
beyond his instrument, possibly due to the reality that he's been playing
professionally most of his life. By the time he cut the memorable Michael
Jackson hit "Billie Jean", Ndugu had been playing kit throughout
elementary school and, by his teens was working with major artists including
Bobby Hutcherson, Hugh Masakela, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Weather
Report, Patrice Rushen (with whom he gigged around LA as a duo), George
Duke and Frank Sinatra. A seventies stalwart in Santana, a band that
embraced Ndugu's full range of talents, he also appears (and co-produced
material) on Tina Turner's blockbuster Private Dancer.