Meeting Ralph Peterson is a huge pleasure. Not only is he very funny, his history, knowledge and skills are truly inspiring. In the five videos with this article he talks about his fight against drugs and alcohol, just tells you how to be yourself and shares the most interesting views on music and the contemporary industry. And he reveals a lot of his new music is coming soon! Every answer to the 'Ten One-minute Questions' has the right weight and is a lesson on itself.

Ralph Peterson's Meinl Festival show
Ralph Peterson's performance at the Meinl Drum Festival was equally valuable as his interview answers. He has all the traditions in music in his system, and takes you from Art Blakey to Jack DeJohnette, moving straight forward to some serious Coltrane-vibes. As you will hear Robert "Sput" Searight saying during his 10-drummerszone-minutes, minutes after Ralph's clinic:

"He's a legend. He just destroyed it on stage. He plays Jazz, but he plays a lot more than Jazz on the drums. He plays Latin, Afro-Cuban and all sorts of styles. His playing is funky, it is very musical and it is very enlightening to hear him play."

- Robert "Sput" Searight

The ten questions in the five videos are:

1. Can you describe what playing Meinl means to you?
   
2. What is your favorite Meinl cymbal?
   
3. What made you start playing drums, what was the trigger?
   
4. What do you still practice regularly?
   
5. The biggest mistake you ever made while performing?
   
6. Which artist playing this festival do you envy the most?
   
7. What is your message during a clinic like today?
   
8. Which three albums should everybody listen to?
   
9. What do you still aspire in music?
   
10. What is your main advice to the drummers out there?

We put together a quick biography in three parts: Ralph Peterson as an educator, a composer and as a performing artist.

Ralph Peterson the Educator
As a former student with Ralph Peterson, Matt Garstka is probably the first one to confirm his knowledge and insight is quite impressive. Ralph Peterson has been around for a while and can literally tell you about how music developed over time, give you the tools on how to listen to music and make it all your own.

Ralph Peterson teaches at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and has taught at Philadelphia's University of the Arts.

Ralph Peterson the Composer
Ralph is the leader of several of his own bands: the Ralph Peterson Sextet, Fo’tet, the Unity Project, and Tri-Angular. In 2015 and 2016 he has three new releases to come out, making the total count of his solo records to over twenty. A selection of his releases is linked with this article.

Ralph Peterson the Artist
At the age of 21, he was chosen to play by Art Blakey as a Messenger in the 1983 version of The Jazz Messenger two drummer Big Band. He played alongside Blakey and learned firsthand from the master himself. Ralph Peterson remained the 2nd drummer in the Big Band until Blakey’s passing. Being the 'Last Messenger Drummer' of Art Blakey's most famous band, he later paid homage to him on his 1992 recording 'Art'. He is a member of The Messenger Legacy, an elite line-up of former members of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.

There are numerous artists to mention that he has played with. This shortlist is already impressive enough: Terrence Blanchard, Branford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine, David Murray, The Count Basie Orchestra, Betty Carter, Michael Brecker, Kenny Barron, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Don Byron, Don Braden, Walter Davis Jr., Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Ravi Coltrane and Roy Hargrove. He is also President, CEO, and owner of Onyx Productions Music Label and has a non-profit organization.

Ralph Peterson plays

• Meinl Cymbals
  
• Mapex drums
  
• Evans Drumheads
  
• Vic Firth drumsticks

All artists performing at the Meinl Drum Festival 2015

• Thomas Lang
  
• Adam Markó
  
• Richard Spaven
  
• Krimhera
  
• Ralph Peterson Jr.
  
• Anika Nilles
  
• Matt Garstka
  
• Robert "Sput" Searight
  
• Benny Greb