Remembering James Gadson
Ilford HP5 / Nikon 35mm (Devin O'Brien)
I heard through the grapevine that drummer nonpareil James Gadson passed away last night. I know he had been dealing with health troubles for some time and when I woke up this morning, the news proved true.
When I called him in for a session with Adam Behringer back in 2019, Gadson asked few questions. "What kind of drum kit do you have at the studio?"
"I've got an old 60's Slingerland jazz kit."
"Sounds good. Hey now, cash... no checks."
One of the few crystal visions I had when BIG EGO opened was to have Gadson come in for a session. A few months later, there I was in the little studio I'd opened a couple blocks from my high school. Somehow James Gadson was there too. He lived close by but I was amazed at how easy he was to deal with. No manager or agent. Just a direct connect. Call or email. That's it.
He came in, took a look around, and nodded. I showed him to the isolation booth with the Slingerland kit mic'd up and ready to go. I don't think he tuned the drums or even brought his own sticks or cymbals. He just used whatever was there. We cut three songs live in the room with Adam on grand piano, Fender Rhodes, and Oberheim, Steuart Liebig on electric bass, and Heather Sommerhauser featured on vocals for the single, You Show Me Light.
Once we got our takes everyone piled into the control room and Gadson sat on the arm of the couch over my left shoulder. "I like this. You can trust it." He was talking about how unhyped the playback was. Not too loud. Not too bass heavy. Honest.
Ilford HP5 / Nikon 35mm (Devin O'Brien)
A day after the great man has passed on, I am listening James Gadson count off the track, How Can I Put This? and I am reminded that he is not gone and never will be.