Dennis Mackrel
Encyclopedia
Dennis Mackrel is an American jazz drummer
, composer
, and arranger. He is also known for his work as a bandleader
and music educator
. He is most notable for his associations with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra
.
The son of two jazz enthusiasts, Mackrel started playing the drums at age two, bought his first drum set at age five, and began his professional career playing at a community theater at age ten. He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
, studying jazz under Frank Gagliardi
, during which time he performed in venues such as the Imperial Palace
and the Tropicana
. In 1981, Mackrel moved to New York City and became a drummer with a Broadway theatre
orchestra. Two years later, singer Joe Williams
invited him to join the Count Basie Orchestra, where Mackrel would remain until December 1987. He was the last drummer of that orchestra to be personally hired by Count Basie
himself.
Mackrel frequently performed as a substitute drummer in the Mel Lewis
Jazz Orchestra. Shortly before Lewis died in February 1990, he announced that he wanted Mackrel to take his place as the regular drummer for the band, which soon changed its name to the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
Mackrel later became the drummer for other big band
s, including his own Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra. In September 2010, he returned to the Count Basie Orchestra as its director after the retirement of trombonist Bill Hughes
.
As a composer and arranger, Mackrel has received a Grant for Composition from the National Endowment for the Arts
(1983). He has written pieces for McCoy Tyner
(on the Grammy-winning The Turning Point
and Journey
), the WDR Radio Big Band of Cologne, the Klüvers Big Band
of Denmark, and the RIAS Big Band of Berlin.
Jazz drumming
Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz-rock fusion and 1980s-era latin jazz...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and arranger. He is also known for his work as a bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
and music educator
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
. He is most notable for his associations with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
.
The son of two jazz enthusiasts, Mackrel started playing the drums at age two, bought his first drum set at age five, and began his professional career playing at a community theater at age ten. He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
, studying jazz under Frank Gagliardi
Frank Gagliardi
Frank Gagliardi was an American jazz drummer and percussionist, big band composer, arranger, director, and professor. He was the creator and director of the UNLV Jazz Ensemble from 1974 until 1996...
, during which time he performed in venues such as the Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino
Imperial Palace is a 2,640 room hotel and a casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The hotel and casino were owned by Imperial Palace LLC until purchased by the current owner, Caesars Imperial Palace Corporation a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corp..-History:From 1959 to...
and the Tropicana
Tropicana Resort & Casino
Tropicana Las Vegas is located on the Las Vegas Strip, in the township of Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Resort Inc. and operated by Alex Yemenidjian's Armenco Holdings. It offers 1,658 rooms and is attached to a casino...
. In 1981, Mackrel moved to New York City and became a drummer with a Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
orchestra. Two years later, singer Joe Williams
Joe Williams (jazz singer)
Joe Williams was a well-known jazz vocalist, a baritone singing a mixture of blues, ballads, popular songs, and jazz standards.-Early life:...
invited him to join the Count Basie Orchestra, where Mackrel would remain until December 1987. He was the last drummer of that orchestra to be personally hired by Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
himself.
Mackrel frequently performed as a substitute drummer in the Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis was an American drummer, jazz musician and band leader. He was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York to Russian immigrant parents....
Jazz Orchestra. Shortly before Lewis died in February 1990, he announced that he wanted Mackrel to take his place as the regular drummer for the band, which soon changed its name to the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
Mackrel later became the drummer for other big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s, including his own Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra. In September 2010, he returned to the Count Basie Orchestra as its director after the retirement of trombonist Bill Hughes
Bill Hughes (musician)
William Henry "Bill" Hughes is an American jazz trombonist and bandleader. He has spent most of his career with the Count Basie Orchestra and was the director of that ensemble until September 2010.- Early life and career :...
.
As a composer and arranger, Mackrel has received a Grant for Composition from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
(1983). He has written pieces for McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
(on the Grammy-winning The Turning Point
The Turning Point (McCoy Tyner album)
The Turning Point is an album by McCoy Tyner's Big Band released on the Birdology label in 1992. It was recorded in November 1991 and features performances by Tyner's Big Band...
and Journey
Journey (McCoy Tyner album)
Journey is an album by McCoy Tyner's Big Band released on the Birdology label in 1993. It was recorded in May 1993 and features performances by Tyner's Big Band, which included Steve Turre, Joe Ford, Billy Harper, Avery Sharpe and Frank Lacy...
), the WDR Radio Big Band of Cologne, the Klüvers Big Band
Klüvers Big Band
Klüvers Big Band is a Danish big band. It was formed in 1977 by a group of young music students under the leadership of Jens Klüver. Since then the orchestra has worked with a long line of international and Danish soloists...
of Denmark, and the RIAS Big Band of Berlin.
External links
- Official website
- [ Dennis Mackrel] at Allmusic