Bobby Previte
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Bobby Previte | |
|---|---|
 Previte during a rehearsal in Moscow, 1991, photo by Mikhail Evstafiev | |
| Background information | |
| Born | July 16, 1951 Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, rock, experimental |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Label | Palmetto |
| Website | www |
Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951, in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began professional relationships with John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, and Elliott Sharp.
Previte has received critical acclaim for his "exceptional abilities as a composer and orchestrator."[1] A review of his 1988 album Claude's Late Morning reports that "Perhaps most striking is Previte's skill in composing music that fully integrates these disparate instruments — including drums and drum machine, electric guitar and keyboards, trombone, harp, accordion, banjo, pedal steel guitar, tuba, and harmonica — while emphasizing each instrument's unique, individual sound."[2] Another critic notes Previte's "driving and propulsive compositions, featuring both fiery jazz expressionism and layered counterpoint that suggested elements of contemporary minimalism.[3]
In 1991, he wrote the score for "Cirk Valentin" (Moscow Circus on Stage), a stage show consisting of circus acts created by Valentin Gneushev that performed at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway.[citation needed]
Recent large-scale compositional works as of Spring 2007 include:
- "The Constellations Ensemble," a chamber group touring the multi-media show, The 23 Constellations of Joan Miró.
- "The Separation", a collaboration with writer/director Andrea Kleine "dealing with the role of religion in society. Based on the 15th-century composer Guilliaume Dufay's Missa Sancti Jacobi and written for early music pioneers the Rose Ensemble with electric band."[4]
Performer
Previte has received excellent reviews and full articles in major newspapers such as The New York Times,[5] The Washington Post, and The Guardian[6] for playing a wide range of genres and venues[7] and for qualities as diverse as his intellectual aesthetic to his ability "to groove." Recent and current projects as of Spring 2007 include :
- "Dialed In," a solo electronic drum show collaboration with video artist Benton C Bainbridge.
- The Coalition of the Willing, a guitar quartet featuring Charlie Hunter, Steven Bernstein and Jamie Saft.
- "Strike", a new quartet with organist Marco Benevento and two saxophones.
- "Groundtruther", a duo with Hunter.
- "The Beta Popes", a power trio with Skerik and Saft.
- "Swami LatePlate," a duo with Jamie Saft.
Much of Previte's work is also improvisational. One of Previte's own favorite recorded improvisational collaborations was with John Zorn, "Euclid's Nightmare" (Depth of Field 1997).[8]
In the 1990s, he performed with the Seattle-based 100% improvisational musical collective Ponga with Wayne Horvitz, Skerik, and Dave Palmer. Previte has collaborated with Jamie Saft as "Swami Late Plate". Previte appeared in the movie Short Cuts, directed by Robert Altman.[9]
In 1997, he founded the record company and label Depth of Field.[citation needed]
