Ralph Peterson Jr.
Berklee College of Music

For nearly 20 years, Ralph Peterson has been on of the distinctive and recognizable drummers in jazz. His talent and drive as a drummer, composer, arranger and bandleader set him apart as a master among his peers.

In 1980, Ralph was accepted into the Jazz Studies program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Some of his teachers there included Kenny Barron, Paul Jeffrey and Michael Carvin. They instilled in him the importance of fundamentals as well as the importance of having the seeking spirit necessary for continued musical growth.

Peterson met mast drummer Art Blakey in 1983. A few months after sitting in, Blakey called Peterson (then a college junior) to play along side him in his two-drummer big band. This was for a performance at the Boston Globe Festival. Ralph continued in the Jazz Messenger Big Band until Blakey's passing. Peterson takes seriously the honor and responsibility of being the "Last Messenger Drummer" and later paid homage to Blakey on his 1992 recording "Art."

In 1985, a year after his graduation from Rutgers, Peterson was hired to perform with piano giant Walter Davis Jr., as well as with trumpeter Jon Fadis. Ralph has since become a member of the jazz elite. His recording and touring resume includes jazz greats like Terrence Blanchard, Branford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, David Murray, The Count Basie Orchestra, Better Carter and Michael Brecker.

Peterson's recording career began in 1985 with the Blue Note stable band OTB (Out of the Blue). Shortly thereafter, he was singed to the Blue Note Label as a leader and released six critically acclaimed recordings. His debut project, "V", won him the prestigious Swing Journal Gold Disc Award. Ralph has since recorded two Cds for the Evidence label, "The Reclamation Project" and "The Fo'tet Plays Monk", and two Cds for the British Sirocco Jazz label: "Back to Stay" which featured Michael Brecker and his latest recording, "Triangular 2", which features Dave Kikowski. Peterson has accomplished the difficult task of keeping a working band (The Fo'tet) together for over ten years. His Quintet release on Criss Cross entitled "The Art of War" received rave reviews and this Quintest, as did the following releases "Subliminal Seduction" and "Tests of Time". The band's energy and precision is the subject of much of the buzz in the international jazz community.

Ralph continues to maintain the set standards in creativity, both as a leader and a sideman by working with musicians such as Don Byron. In December of 2000, Ralph subbed with the legendary Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, at Elvin's request. Ralph was also featured recently in a tribute concert to his mentor Art Blakey, featuring Jazz Messenger Alumni as well as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis and has performed recently with the artists like Benny Golson and Freddie Hubbard.

As an educator, Ralph has been on the faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, has been an artist in residence and visiting professor at Princeton University. He has also been a professor at Long Island University, the New School, NJ PAC's Jazz for teens program, the North Netherlands Conservatory in Holland, Rutgers University, and the Julliard School of Music. He has most recently been added to the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston as full professor of percussion. He is also a clinician for Mapex Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Vater sticks.