Opens With World’s Most Recorded Drummer
Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, whose claim-to-fame includes being the world’s most recorded drummer, brings fresh beats to BendBroadband’s Jazz at the Oxford.
“There is no better way to kick off our 7th series than with Bernard Purdie,” said Oxford Corporate’s Regional Vice President of Operations, Ben Perle. “He’s recorded with the who’s-who of music, and his talent is legendary. In fact, this entire series is comprised of exceptional talent and we want to recognize our sponsors for their unwavering support. So far, the community has embraced our shows with open arms. We are truly grateful for the encouragement and we’re excited to start this next season.”
At the age of six, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie began to bang out rhythms on improvised equipment. At 14, he purchased his first drum set. After graduating high school, he moved to New York City and played with musicians like Lonnie Youngblood before landing his first hit with King Curtis. This, in turn, led to his engagement with Aretha Franklin in 1970 and the beginning of an unparalleled career.
No other drummer has seen the inside of a recording studio as often as Bernard “Pretty” Purdie. Ranked the 20th greatest drummer of all-time by Rolling Stone, Purdie’s talent has appeared on more than 4,000 albums. He served as Aretha Franklin’s musical director for several years and, since then, has been a regular guest in the studios of jazz, soul and rock stars. In addition to recording with Paul Butterfield, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, James Brown, B.B. King, and many, many others, Purdie also created the now well-known “Purdie Shuffle”; a complex rhythm containing triplets and ghost notes.
Joining Purdie on stage will be friends Frankie Cicala on guitar, Miho Nobuzane on keyboards and vocals, Tetsuya Sato on bass and John Korba on keyboards and vocals.
Tickets are $45 plus fees, and can be purchased online at jazzattheoxford.com. Show times are:
- Friday, October 21 at 8:00 pm – sold out
- Saturday, October 22 at 5:00 pm
- Saturday, October 22 at 8:00 pm
In addition, the popular Free Music Education Workshop will be held on Saturday, October 22, at 11:15 am at the OXFORD hotel. Hosted by Georges Bouhey, all ages and skill levels are welcome to gain insight and musical life lessons from Purdie.
BendBroadband’s Jazz at the Oxford is made possible by the support of several local companies that are dedicated to the cultural enrichment of Central Oregon. In addition to BendBroadband, the series is supported by returning sponsors Douglas Jewelry Design, Zolo Media, The Bend Bulletin, Subaru of Bend and Bank of the Cascades. The series is produced by Patrick Lamb Productions of Portland, Ore.
About the OXFORD hotel: The OXFORD hotel is Bend’s first and only luxury boutique hotel. Located in the heart of downtown Bend, the seven-story OXFORD hotel features 59 spacious and luxurious executive suites, many with views of the Cascade Mountains. Designed with the leisure and business traveler in mind, the OXFORD hotel features a variety of amenities and services intended to up the ante on the traditional boutique hotel experience. For more information, visit oxfordhotelbend.com.