David Crigger

At the age of 18, drummer David Crigger was asked to join the legendary Don Ellis Orchestra, whose blending of jazz, odd-meters and multi-ethnic rhythms helped define "world music" long before the term had been coined; later he went on to a stint with German fusion artist Klaus Doldinger's group, Passport; albums with organist Brian Auger, pop sensation Rick Springfield, organist John Novello, and pianist Stu Goldberg. He has performed with the jazz/classical group, Free Flight, the late Latin music master, Willie Bobo, the big bands of Ralph Carmichael, Joe Roccisano and Bruce Lofgren, and has backed artists like Dionne Warwick, Maureen McGovern, David Foster, Roger Williams, and Marilyn McCoo; and has made scores of appearances in concerts, videos, and recordings with legendary songwriter, Burt Bacharach including the 1998 tribute broadcast, "One Amazing Night " with David playing for Burt, Luther Vandross, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Wynnona, Chrissie Hynde, David Sanborn, Dionne Warwick, George Duke, and Mike Myers; as well as various appearances with Burt and Elvis Costello including the Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach US/UK tour supporting their collaborative CD "Painted From Memory" and their appearance on Sessions at West 54th Street. A tour which lead to David recording Burt and Elvis' remake of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and appearing, performing it with them, in "Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me". David's reputation as a quick study has also found him in orchestra pits, subbing for shows like "Lion King", "Les Miserables", "Jerome Robbins' Broadway", "Dreamgirls" and "They're Playing Our Song"; working on films like "Swing Kids", "The Marrying Man" and "Revenge of the Nerds"; and recently, in front of 13,000 people sitting on the drum throne of the Brian Setzer Rockestra after only one skeleton rehearsal and no sound check! Long before the onset of drum machines, producer Joey Vieira enlisted David to create a sort of recorded encyclopedia of pop drumming performances for use by songwriters to create demos. The resulting five albums, called "DrumDrops", were quite popular then and, as it turns out, now. The current demand for drum loops as well as a renewed interest in 70's grooves and recording qualities have made the five disks very sought after items. And though it's been seventeen years since the last "DrumDrops" album was recorded, David is still frequently stopped and asked, "Hey! Aren't you the Drum Drops guy?" In his busy boutique-style home recording studio, David has been able to explore musical pursuits beyond drumming.

He has written and performed scores for a dozen educational children's films; and has co-produced albums for fellow drummer Jeanette Wrate, the Bruce Lofgren Jazz Orchestra, avant garde jazz/poetry group Transvalue, and guitarist Tom Hynes (including tracks of David playing with bassist John Pattitucci and saxophonist, Eric Marienthal). His years of immersion in the recording process (and drumming) have led him to write numerous articles for Electronic Musician, Rhythm, Recording, and Music Technology magazines as well as ten books on MIDI, drum machines and electronic drumming. He has also taught at the Musician's Institute and at the Grove School of Music. With the release in January of 2008 of “Transvalue Book III”, David is excited to again be part of music that so actively pushes boundaries. “I haven’t been this proud to be involved in a project since my early days with Don Ellis " music that’s challenging, exciting, dramatic, thought provoking, and yet fun and joyful " all at the same time.” David is currently writing and recording new music for an upcoming solo release.