Batterie Magazine numéro 196

If intensity, sensitivity and musicality are the keys to being a great drummer, then it's no wonder that Steve Gadd is still one of the most respected musicians on the groove planet. Over the past fifty years, our man has put his signature on thousands of live and studio recordings, creating many iconic patterns and sublime finds with artists as diverse as Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Chick Corea, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Weather Report, James Taylor, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel, or Michael Brecker, Peter Gabriel, Joe Cocker, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul McCartney... The list is endless!
At 77 years of age, wizard Steve Gadd's playing remains viscerally magical. With him, technique is never apparent and his indefinable touch allows him to give an almost mystical dimension to the most rudimentary grooves. The recent visit of the American to Paris (September 29) with James Taylor allowed us to see, once again, the phenomenon with our own eyes. Invited by the Doctor himself at the Olympia a few hours before the show for the photo shoot, we had the privilege to talk with him at length. Behind this apparent wisdom, Steve always has this sparkle in his eyes, especially when he talks about the rudiments of his new method, of which he presents us with a few samples, sticks in hand, while tapping on the stage of his drum set. An enthusiasm, a curiosity and a need to explore that his counterpart Paco Séry (also in this issue) also knew how to keep. And so, some passions seem unshakeable, even after half a century of practice.