Chris Dave (b. 1973) — Drums. Played on Simply Said, Mary, Happy People. Worked with Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Casey Benjamin.
Houston-born drummer who started in gospel, went pro as Mint Condition's touring drummer while at Howard University. Made his national jazz debut on Kenny Garrett's Simply Said (1999). From 2009-2012, played on three Grammy-winning albums: Maxwell's BLACKsummers'night (Best R&B Album), Adele's 21 (Album of the Year, drums on Rick Rubin-produced tracks), and Robert Glasper Experiment's Black Radio (Best R&B Album). Drummer of D'Angelo's band The Vanguard on Black Messiah (2014). Played on 9 of 12 tracks on Utada Hikaru's Hatsukoi. His singular style fusing J Dilla's hip-hop rhythmic feel with live drumming made Blue Note president Don Was say: "I couldn't believe it wasn't a loop." Released his solo album Chris Dave and the Drumhedz on Blue Note in 2018.
Robert Glasper Experiment album featuring Chris Dave
Black Radio
Robert Glasper Experiment · 2012
BLACKsummers'night
Maxwell · 2009
21
Adele · 2011
Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ played drums on three Grammy-winning albums: Maxwell's BLACKsummers'night (2009, Best R&B Album), four Rick Rubin–produced tracks on Adele's 21 (2011, Best Pop Vocal Album), and Robert GlasperRobert Glasperロバート・グラスパー's Black RadioBlack RadioRobert Glasper Experiment · 2012 (2012, Best R&B Album). A session drummer spanning R&B and pop Grammys.
Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ played drums on 8 of 12 tracks on Utada HikaruUtada Hikaru宇多田ヒカル's album Hatsukoi (2018), recorded at RAK and AIR Studios in London. Utada said "Chikai" — the Kingdom Hearts III theme — "wouldn't have worked without him." The jazz drummer who backed D'AngeloD'Angeloディアンジェロ and Adele anchored one of J-pop's most celebrated comeback albums.
Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ was the drummer in D'Angelo's band The Vanguard on Black Messiah (2014), D'Angelo's first album in 14 years. The drums on the earlier Voodoo (2000) were played by Questlove — Chris Dave joined the camp afterwards. Black Messiah won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.
The four Rick Rubin–produced tracks on Adele's 21 (2011) — 'Don't You Remember,' 'He Won't Go,' 'One and Only,' and 'Lovesong' — were played by Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ on drums, Pino PalladinoPino Palladinoピノ・パラディーノ on bass, and James Poyser on piano. Recorded at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, these sessions are a prime example of R&B/jazz musicians anchoring a pop album. The album sold over 31 million copies worldwide.
Questlove called Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ "the most dangerous drummer alive." He explained: "If my style is a drunken style of drumming, then Chris Dave is like speed, or 8-ball. It's heroin and cocaine mixed together." When D'Angelo announced his 2012 comeback tour with Dave on drums, Questlove said: "My worst nightmare."
Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ's national jazz debut came on Kenny GarrettKenny Garrettケニー・ギャレット's Simply Said (1999). After a career path from gospel to Mint Condition (touring drummer) to the Janet Jackson World Tour, this album — featuring Pat Metheny and Marcus Miller — established him as a jazz drummer.
Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ is widely credited with bringing J Dilla's rhythmic sensibility into modern jazz through the Robert GlasperRobert Glasperロバート・グラスパー Experiment. Blue Note president Don Was said: "The way he emulates the jagged J Dilla beats — humans aren't supposed to play that stuff. I couldn't believe it wasn't a loop."
Rick Rubin saw Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ playing behind Mos Def and made him the resident drummer at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. Through that connection, Dave played on Ed Sheeran's x (Multiply) — drums on "Bloodstream" and "Tenerife Sea." "Bloodstream" was recorded virtually live, the whole band playing at once.
Robert Glasper Experiment album featuring Chris Dave
Black Radio
Robert Glasper Experiment · 2012
Robert GlasperRobert Glasperロバート・グラスパー Experiment's Black Radio (2012, Grammy Best R&B Album) was recorded in just five days in LA. All instrumental tracks were cut live in a single take. Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ's hip-hop-inflected grooves fused with jazz improvisation, backing vocals from Erykah Badu, Bilal, and Lupe Fiasco.
Chris DaveChris Daveクリス・デイヴ released his solo album Chris Dave and the Drumhedz on Blue Note Records in 2018, featuring vocals from Anderson .Paak, SiR, Bilal, and Stokley Williams. Fusing gospel, hip-hop, electronica, and jazz, the album was the culmination of a career spent behind some of music's biggest names.
