RHYTHMS OF THUNDER presents the electrifying drumming of three of Chicago’s finest drummers: CHARLES “RICK” HEATH is a drummer, composer, bandleader, and teacher who has been drumming and winning awards since childhood. A professional musician by the age of fourteen, he has performed with many jazz greats and was recently in the orchestra of The Color Purple. Charles is also responsible for the popular “Jazzn’ on the Southside,” held every Wednesday at the ETA.
ERNIE ADAMS sat in on his first professional gig at 15 years old, and he hasn’t stopped since. Performing all over the world, being a large part of the national jingle scene, and featured on over 90 recordings by musicians such as Al DiMeola, Ramsey Lewis, and Nancy Wilson, Ernie is a drummer/percussionist in demand. Orbert Davis says of Ernie, he “is every leader’s wish and every composer’s dream.” Ernie also co-wrote and performed on the soundtrack and appeared in the 1995 motion picture A Family Thing.
DANA HALL has been an important musician on the international music scene since 1992 after leaving aerospace engineering for a life in music. Dana has performed, toured, and/or recorded with such luminaries as Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Horace Silver, Clark Terry, and too many more to name. His debut CD, Into the Light, was released to great critical acclaim. Completing his PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Chicago, he is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Music Director of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Performing with the drummers are ROBERT IRVING III, piano; JUNIUS PAUL, bass; ROB HAIGHT, sax; and KHARI B, spoken word.
