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Lenny White

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Lenny White is an American jazz drummer, born in Queens, New York, in 1949, who is called one of the founders of jazz fusion. He taught himself to drum and played in clubs in New York at an early age, including Slug's. His first gig was at the Gold Lounge with the saxophonist Jackie McLean. In the late 1960s he often played with McLean, and that led him to Miles Davis. In 1969 he played on Bitches Brew, and in 1970 on Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay. In 1972 he joined Chick Corea's Return to Forever.

Music and breakthrough

In 1975 his first solo album, Venusian Summer, appeared, with Al Di Meola and Larry Coryell, among others. Big City followed in 1977 and in 1978 the space opera The Adventures of Astral Pirates and Streamline. He then formed the jazz-soul group Twennynine, which made three albums, including Just Like Dreamin'. In 1982 he played on Corea's Touchstone and produced Chaka Khan's Echoes of an Era. With Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire he co-produced Pieces of a Dream's Joyride. He has won three Grammys.

Influence

His playing is powerful and yet flexible, bringing rock and funk energy into jazz. He now teaches at NYU Steinhardt, where he gives a course on Bitches Brew under the title The Miles Davis Aesthetic. In this way a drummer who was present at the birth of fusion passes on his knowledge to new musicians.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Miles Davis's Bitches Brew and notice the drums, which together with the other percussionists lay down a dense, continuous pulse beneath the long improvisations.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists