Ed Thigpen (1930-2010)
Ed Thigpen was one of the great Jazz drummers…especially his brush playing. I saw Ed many times at Winter NAMM. He would always be playing with brushes on a drumset or his signature brush pad. (I still own mine-it’s worn out-you can’t find them anymore)
It was a great experience to be that close, observe him play brushes. Most of the attendees and general “audience” didn’t know who he was, or the contribution to American Jazz he created with Oscar Peterson.
When I discovered those Youtube videos of the Oscar Peterson Trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, I noticed several things.
Of coarse…it was a different period in time, mostly in the mid 60s. The live performance of acoustic instruments wasn’t over amplified with microphones and speakers.
Ray Brown’s bass and Ed’s drums are within a few feet of Oscar. No monitors or extravagant drum risers and “it looks great’ staging. Their playing is tight and articulate.
Oscar Peterson is known for his amazing chops and technique. This includes his ability to play up-tempo.
Ed Thigpen was totally in control with sticks or brushes. He is my favorite drummer for Oscar’s trio. The ability to play soft dynamics in a piano trio takes time and work. He also built his Jazz drumset sound around that environment.
I was at a PAS – Percussive Arts Society event as an exhibitor. Many drummers performed solo clinics. At this event was Terry Bozzio. This was the 90s. It was the early stage of Terry’s expanded drumset experimentation. I attended and sat in the audience, behind Ed Thigpen. Though Ed was a 4-piece drumset jazz purist, I could tell that he appreciated Terry Bozzio’s artistic expression on an enormous drumset.
Ed Thigpen was a great drummer, playing with sticks, brushes or his bare hands.