Femme Fatale Friday: Drummer Cindy Blackman

❁Good morning❁ 

If people know about drummer Cindy Blackman, it is usually because she has recorded and toured with Lenny Kravitz for almost two decades starting in 1993 with "Are You Gonna Go My Way". 

I typically get a "Huh?" or a confused expression when I mention that she started out in jazz and continues to be a prolific jazz drummer. 

Lenny Kravitz's powerful percussionist has recorded several straight-ahead jazz albums under her own name, and has performed with acclaimed jazz and rock artists, including Pharoah Sanders, Ron Carter, Sam Rivers, Cassandra Wilson, Angela Bofill, Buckethead, Bill Laswell and Joe Henderson! 

“Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. Cindy Blackman is among the few who can....” says Mike Zwerin of the International Herald Tribune. 

Who is Cindy Blackman?

When Cindy was a little girl, she found her "calling" quite by accident. Blackman's first introduction to the drums happened when she was seven years old in her hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

While attending a pool party at a friend's house, she went to use the bathroom and saw a drum set and just hopped onto the set. 

"It was incredible," says Blackman. "Just looking at them struck something in my core, and it was completely right from the second I saw them."

 The family relocated to Connecticut when Cindy was 11 years old. A couple of years after that, she became interested in jazz after listening to Max Roach. 

 "Jazz was the thing that was most intriguing because of the challenge that was involved," says Blackman. "When I was shown that the drummers on these records were playing independently with all four limbs, I was like: 'Really?! Is that what they're doing? Is that what Max Roach is doing on that record? Oh! Okay!'"

After graduating from Hart College of Music in Hartford, CT, Cindy attended Berklee College of Music in Boston for a few semesters. With encouragement, she left Berklee and arrived in New York City in 1982. The rest, as they say, is history. :)

What has she done?

 Here's Ms. Blackman performing with Lenny Kravitz back in 1994. 

You can hear and see her driving the beat on Kravitz's song "Thinking of You" which was dedicated to his mother, actress Roxie Roker. 

Cindy Blackman's Discography:

• "Arcane" (Muse - 1988
• "Autumn Leaves" (Ninety One - 1989)
• "Trio + Two" (Freelance [Import] - 1990]
• "Code Red " (Muse - 1990)
• "Telepathy" (Muse - 1992)
• "The Oracle" (Muse -1995)
• "In the Now"  (High Note - 1998)
• "Works on Canvas"  (High Note - 1999)
• "Someday"  (High Note - 2001)
• "Music for the New Millennium"  (Sacred / Dln - 2004)
• "Another Lifetime"  (Four Quarters Entertainment - 2010)

 Graham Haynes (flugelhorn) and Cindy Blackman are the featured soloists on the tune "Sanctuary" at the Celebrate Brooklyn! & CareFusion Jazz Festival in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY - 19th June 2010:

Incredibly, Cindy Blackman doesn't have a website up and running at the moment. I would love to be able to give you an upcoming show schedule but it isn't readily available. 

Do you own any of her albums? Which one would you recommend to someone that would be interested in exploring her music?

If you have seen her perform, I'd like to hear your thoughts about it.  What did you enjoy the most about her show? 

As always, I encourage you to "Go see live jazz!" You should definitely take advantage of the opportunity if you get a chance to see Cindy Blackman perform as a rock or jazz drummer.

Have a fantastic weekend!

source: wikipedia.org and drummerworld.com

Comments

[wayne]

she is an amazing drummer, saw her last year at Rochester.

[Donna M]

Hi Wayne!

You've seen hundreds of jazz artists. That is so cool! :D

[Eric Daniel]

Thanks for bringing attention to this great musician!

All the best, E.

[Philwbass]

I have a few of her jazz records - great stuff! I'm surprised she's still in Lenny's band. I thought she might play with hima year or so when she joined...

[Donna M]

Hi Eric and Phil!

Eric ~ I thanked you on Twitter and I'm thanking you again for taking time to read the blog. :)

Phil ~ With the exception of the year 2004, Ms. Blackman has been with Lenny Kravitz since 1993. (according it her Wiki page).

It's amazing to have that sort of musical relationship with anybody, regardless of genre [not counting the Rolling Stones or Aerosmilth! :-)]

[wayne]

billions and billions to be correct sadly we will not be signing up for our favored jazz series this coming year. M got laid off this week... though I think we may find the money to see Cedar Walton who is playing just down the road from us ;')