Rich Thompson

Rich Thompson

Byron Stripling Quartet, Trio East, Triocity, Independent

Drummer Rich Thompson has been in demand as a top call drummer in Rochester for the past 25 years. Besides serving as the drum set instructor at the Eastman School of Music since the fall of 1996, Rich has toured, performed, and recorded with the œwhos who of jazz greats including pianist James Williams (Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers), The Count Basie Orchestra, Tito Puente, Frank Foster, Doc Severinsen, The Byron Stripling quartet, saxophonist Rich Perry, the Bill Dobbins Trio, Harold Danko, Marion McPartland, Trio East (which includes Clay Jenkins and Jeff Campbell), Snooky Young, Gene Bertoncini, Carl Fontana, Phil Woods, Joe Pass, and a host of others too numerous to mention. The Boston Globe cited Rich as œthe drummer who drove the Basie sound when he appeared with them at the Boston Jazz and Blues Festival.

Rich Thompson'S SETUP:

  1. 14" Zildjian HH's (K Constant bottom-A Avedis top)
  2. 19" Kerope w/rivets
  3. 22" Riley Ride w/rivets
  4. 19" K Special Dry Crash

* May be prototype

Rich
Thompson's
IN 3

Rich Thompson's
IN 3

  • WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

    Creative music, musicians, and situations of all types tend to be the things that have become a "constant" for me.

  • WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRUMMERS

    Be open to stylistic concerns and always think in creative musical terms-Practice!

  • FAVORITE ZILDJIAN CYMBAL/COMBO

    My favorite Zildjian cymbal set up consists of a 22" Special Dry K cymbal w/3 rivets, a Kerope 19" crash ride w/3 rivets, and an old pair of of 14" K hihats.

BEHIND THE KIT

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER ARTISTS