Willis Robert "Billy " Drummond Jr. (born June 19, 1959) is an American jazz drummer.
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Billy Drummond
Billy Drummond in 2008
Birth name Willis Robert Drummond Jr. Born (1959-06-15 ) June 15, 1959 (age 65) Newport News, Virginia , U.S.Genres Jazz Occupation Musician Instrument Drums Years active 1980s–present Labels Website billydrummonddrums.com
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Billy Drummond in Aarhus, Denmark, 2020
Billy Drummond was born in Newport News, Virginia, where he grew up listening to the extensive jazz record collection of his father, an amateur drummer and jazz enthusiast. He started playing the drums at four and was performing locally in his own band by the age of eight, and playing music with other kids in the neighborhood, including childhood friends Victor Wooten and the other Wooten brothers,[1] Consuela Lee Moorehead , composer, arranger, music theory professor, and the founder of the Springtree/Snow Hill Institute for the Performing Arts. He attended Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music on a Classical Percussion scholarship and, upon leaving school, became a member of a local Top 40 band called The Squares with bassist Oteil Burbridge .[2]
In 1986, encouraged by Al Foster , who had invited him to sit in at the Village Vanguard and advised him to take the next step, he moved to New York and almost immediately joined the band, Out of the Blue , with whom he recorded their last album, Spiral Staircase (Blue Note Records). A year later, he joined the Horace Silver sextet, touring extensively with him before becoming a member of Sonny Rollins 's band, with whom he toured for three years. During this period he also formed long-term musical associations with Joe Henderson , Bobby Hutcherson , Buster Williams , James Moody , JJ Johnson , Andrew Hill , and others.
He has made four albums as bandleader, including his Criss Cross album Dubai (featuring Chris Potter , Walt Weiskopf and Peter Washington ), which was included in the list of “50 Crucial Jazz Drumming Recordings of the Past 100 Years” by Modern Drummer [3] Valse Sinistre , leading his band Freedom of Ideas, with Micah Thomas , Dezron Douglas and Dayna Stephens , came out on the Canadian Cellar Live label in August 2022. He has made five albums as a co-leader, including We’ll Be Together Again with Javon Jackson and Ron Carter . In addition to touring he is Professor of Jazz Drums at the Juilliard School and New York University .
A sideman on over 350 records, Drummond has played and recorded with, among others, Bobby Hutcherson , Nat Adderley , Ralph Moore , Buster Williams , Charles Tolliver , Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akiyoshi , Hank Jones , James Moody , Sonny Rollins , Andy LaVerne , Lee Konitz , Dave Stryker , George Colligan , Ted Rosenthal , Bruce Barth , Joe Lovano , Andrew Hill , Larry Willis , Toots Thielmans , Freddie Hubbard , Chris Potter , Eddie Gómez , Stanley Cowell , Javon Jackson , and Sheila Jordan . He is a long-time member of Carla Bley 's Lost Chords Quartet, Sheila Jordan 's Quartet, and the Steve Kuhn Trio.
As leader
As co-leader
2003: Pas de Trois The Drummonds
2006: Mysterious Shorter Nicholas Payton/Bob Belden/Sam Yahel/Billy Drummond/John Hart
2006: Once Upon a Time The Drummonds
2006: Letter to Evans The Drummonds
2006: Beautiful Friendship The Drummonds
2016: Three's Company Ron Carter/Javon Jackson/Billy Drummond With OTB
With Nat Adderley
With Carla Bley
With Steve Kuhn
1997: Dedication
1998: Countdown
2000: The Best Things (Reservoir)
2001: Temptation
2002: Waltz – Red Side
2002: Waltz – Blue Side
2004: Easy to Love
2007: Pastorale
2007: Baubles, Bangles and Beads
2007: Pavanne for a Dead Princess
2010: I Will Wait for You With Stanley Cowell
2014: Are You Real
2015: Reminiscent
2017: No Illusions With Eddie Henderson
1998: Dreams of Gershwin
1999: Reemergence
2001: Oasis
2010: For All We Know As sideman
Old Country (1990) with Nat Adderley Sam I Am (1990) with Sam Newsome In New York (1990) with Tomas Franck For the Moment (1990 with Renee Rosnes Mirage Bobby Hutcherson Hornucopia (1991) with Jon Faddis John Swana and Friends (1991) with John Swana Mirage (1991) with Bobby Hutcherson Better Times (1992) with Rob BargadThe Charmer (1992) with Charles Fambrough Epistrophy (1992) with Bill Pierce Simplicity (1992) with Walt Weiskopf Without Words (1992) with Renee Rosnes Dawnbird Vincent Herring Secret Love (1993) with Vincent Herring Blue Note Years (1993) with Joe Henderson Feeling's Mutual (1993) with John SwanaScheme of Things (1993) with Scott WendholtIn from the Cold (1994, Criss Cross ) with Jonny King Days of Wine and Roses (1994) with Vincent HerringDearly Beloved SteepleChase , 1996) with Lee Konitz Notes from the Underground (1996, Enja ) with Jonny KingBluesology George Cables (SteepleChase , 1997)Out of Nowhere Paul Bley (SteepleChase , 1997)RichLee! Rich Perry (SteepleChase , 1997)Light Breeze Franco Ambrosetti (Enja, 1998)True Blue (1998) with Archie Shepp Vertigo Chris Potter Universal Spirits (1998) with Tim Ries Dusk Andrew Hill Duke's Place (1999) with George MrazArt & Soul Everything I Need (1999) with Carol FredetteOut of the Dark (1999) with Andy FuscoPleasant Valley (1999) with Javon Jackson Reemergence (1999) with Eddie Henderson Remembrance (1999) with Sadao Watanabe Rendezvous (1999) with Jerome Harris Search (1999) with Joel Weiskopf Sound of Love (1999) with Tommy Smith Navigator (2000) with Joel Frahm Ask Me Now (2000) with Michael Urbaniak Siren (2000) with Walt WeiskopfSteal the Moon (2000) with Carolyn Leonhart Two Tenor Ballads Mark Turner and Tad ShullWhat Goes Unsaid (2000) with Scott WendholtThis Will Be Oasis (2001) with Eddie HendersonSong (2001) with Marty Ehrlich Workin' Out (2001) with John Campbell Cedars of Avalon Larry Coryell Alternate Side (2001) with Tim RiesWith a Little Help from My Friends (2001) with Renee Rosnes Deja Vu (2001) with Archie SheppWaltz for Debbie (2002) with David Hazeltine Wurd on the Skreet (2002) with Donald Brown Life on Earth (2003) with Renee Rosnes Line on Love (2003) with Marty Ehrlich Little Song (2003) with Sheila Jordan Strings (2003) with Jim Snidero French Ballads (2003) with Archie SheppDeja Vu (2003) with Archie SheppThe Lost Chords (2003) with Carla Bley Dream Dancing (2004) with Steve KuhnClose Up (2004) with Jim SnideroTea for Two (2004) with Walt Weiskopf/Andy Fusco QuartetSight to Sound (2004) with Walt WeiskopfWinter Sonata (2004) with Gary Versace Cleopatra's Dream (2006) David HazeltineManhattan (2006) David Hazeltine/George Mraz TrioPastorale (2007) with Steve KuhnBaubles, Bangles and Beads (2007) with Steve KuhnPavanne for a Dead Princess (2007) with Steve KuhnThe Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu (2007) with Carla BleyNew Conversations (2007) with Carla BleyBlue Fable Larry Willis Nights of Key Largo (2008) with Tessa Souter Moon River (2008) with Nicki ParrottThe Offering Once Upon a Melody (2008) with Javon Jackson Beautiful Love: The NYC Session (2008) with Al Di Meola , Eddie Gómez , Yujata Kobaya Appearing Nightly (2008) with Carla Bley Art of Organizing (2009) with Dr. Lonnie Smith Chick Corea Songbook (2009) with The Manhattan Transfer Mutual Admiration Society (2009) with Joe Locke /David HazeltineNew Moon (2009) with Ron McCLure Mays at the Movies (2009) with Bill MaysCrossfire (2009) with Jim SnideroOne Night at the Kitano (2009) with Jed Levy SteepleChase Fly Me to the Moon (2009) with Nicki Parrott Mays at the Movies (2009) with Bill Mays The Decider (2009) with Peter Zak All My Friends are Here (2010) with Arif Mardin compilationI Will Wait for You (2010) with Steve KuhnInvitation (2010) with Beat Kaestli Cedar Chest (2010) The Music of Cedar Walton compilationFor All We Know (2010) with Eddie HendersonNew York Encounter (2010) with Yakov Okun TrioSteeplechase Jam Session Volume 29 (2010) Andy Laverne SteepleChase Steeplechase Jam Session Volume 30 (2010) Don Braden SteepleChase Dedication (2010) with Ron McClure (2010) SteepleChase Live at Smalls (2011) with Tim RiesLive at Smalls (2011) with Jesse Davis Beyond the Blue (2012) with Tessa Souter Home Tone (2012) with Tony Lakatos Nordic Noon (2012) with Peter Zak SteepleChase Jazz in the New Harmonic (2013) with David Chesky The Eternal Triangle (2013) with Peter Zak SteepleChase Homeland (2014) with Vincent Hsu Are You Real (2014) with Stanley Cowell SteepleChase Leap of Faith (2015) with Burak Bedikyan SteepleChase Primal Scream (2015) with David Chesky Rambling Confessions (2015) with John Hebert Sing to the Sky (2015) with Emma Larsson Tales, Musings, and Other Reveries (2015) with Jeremy Pelt Reminiscent (2015) with Stanley Cowell SteepleChase Standards (2016) with Peter Zak SteepleChase En Rouge (2016) with Atlantico (Dave Schroeder/Sebastien Paindestre )Jive Culture (2016) with Jeremy PeltWhirlwind (2016) w/ Andy Fusco SteepleChase With Due Respect (2016) w/ Freddie Redd SteepleChase En Rouge (2016) w/ Atlantico* Inside the Moment (2017) w/ Camille ThurmanLive and Uncut (2017) w/ Mark WhitfieldCities Between Us (2017) w/ Allegra Levy SteepleChase No Illusions (2017) Stanley Cowell SteepleChase The Pendulum (2017) w/ Mike Richmond SteepleChase Picture in Black and White (NOA, 2018) w/ Tessa Souter Jubilation (2018) w/J im Snidero and Jeremy PeltTrio in the New Harmonic: Aural Paintings (2018) w/ David CheskyMonk's Dreams: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Sphere Monk Frank Kimbrough NYCD: A Tribute to Art Van Damme (2018) w/ Pierre ErikssonOut in the Open (2018) w/ Sam DillonNew Easter Island (2019) w/ AtlanticoOne Mind (2018) w/ Peter Zak QuartetTones for Joan’s Bones (2018) w/ Mike Richmond SteepleChase New Departure (2018) w/ Takayuki YagiPlaying Who I Am (2019) w/ Andrea DomeniciNew Easter Island (2019) w/ AtlanticoFriday the 13th (Steeplechase , 2020) w/ Stephen RileyJazz Dance Suites (Chazz Mack Music , 2020) w/ Charles McPhersonKimbrough (Newvelle , 2021) A tribute album to Frank Kimbrough featuring 67 artists curated by Elan MehlerEarly Spring (Steeplechase, 2021) w/ Anthony Ferrara
On the Move (Stunt, 2021) w/ Gabor Bolla 
