VATER VHCPW Charli Persip

Charli Persip's forty-plus year musical mission includes distinguished residencies with the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra and for the late, great, legendary Billy Eckstine during his the prominent years of 1966-1973. Charli's credits also include gigs and record dates with Tadd Dameron, Frank Foster, Eric Dolphy, Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp and Sam Rivers, among many others. Persip was the drummer on the legendary, "Eternal Triangle" recording, featuring Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.

Charli has also kept busy leading his own big band, Supersound, for 25 years. The band instills the power of a big band with a small group loose feel. As drummer and leader, Persip is able to redefine the big band tradition away from the rhythmically stiff. He reshapes the compositions to work with the concept of Supersound - without reducing the original idea of the composer. Charli and Supersound will be releasing their latest cd, Intrinsic Evolution, in Spring of 2008.

Concurrent with his performing activities, Charli has earned a reputation as a superb educator. He is currently Associate Professor at the New School of Music in Manhattan, New York as well as fifteen years as drum and music instructor for Jazzmobile Inc. and has a highly successful private practice.

Recently, Charli released his first educational book,"How Not to Play Drums-Not for Drummers Only", through Hal Leonard Publishing. This unique, insightful book offers the reader a special understanding of the drummer's role in ensembles- an understanding that can improve relations between drummers, their fellow musicians and their listeners. Other subjects covered in the book include the history of the drum set, the importance of listening, tips on equipment, tuning and practicing, and the art and science of accompaniment.