Frank Gibson Quartet

New Zealand’s foremost drummer, jazz drummer and drum tutor, Frank Gibson is a second generation musician with 36 years experience.  He has taught some of the greatest drummers in New Zealand music today and his rich depth of skills, appreciation and knowledge of drumming in general, and jazz drumming in particular, have inspired students and fans alike.

“… jazz is not a ‘style’ it’s a feeling. Therefore you can teach the disciplines of music but, as an example, you can’t learn be-bop from a book…” says Frank.

Previous students include Michael Franklin-Browne (Pluto), Paul Roper (The Mint Chicks), Paul Russel (Supergroove, Bic Runga, Eight and Che Fu) and Luke Casey (Eye TV and The Relaxomatic Project).

In addition to his regular tuition, Frank has taught at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. as well as Auckland University.  He is currently teaching at Massey University in Auckland.

Frank Gibson has had a vast career that has taken him around the world.  Renowned as a fantastic performer in the international jazz community, he’s demonstrated the ability to play with any jazz group in the world and across any musical genre due to his wonderful feel, outstanding technique, and great empathy.

His CV reads like the "Who's Who" of jazz.  He has played across musical genres with a wide variety of artists including Dionne Warwick, The Temptations, Glen Campbell, Dusty Springfield, Leo Sayer, Diana Krall, Tony Lee, Frank Foster, John Schofield, Alan Broadbent, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, and Shona Lang.

Frank has played on more than 150 CDs/albums, won jazz record of the year 3 times, played on 10 other award-winning albums, and in 1983 was inducted into the Zildjian hall of fame.

More recently, Frank has been playing overseas festivals and clubs such as the Melbourne Festival and Bennett's Lane, playing the occasional gig in LA with long time friends Putter Smith and Alan Broadbent, playing local festivals, Music in Parks, tutoring in jazz at Massey University, and running drum clinics and his private drum tutoring practice.  Currently he is endorsing Yamaha drums, Paiste Cymbals, and Promark sticks in which he has his own signature drumstick.  He also writes a regular column for New Zealand Musicians Magazine.

His CD "Rainbow Bridge" recorded in Melbourne with James Oehlers, Matt Clohesy and Sam Keevers was nominated for jazz record of the year, and he is on three new CD's; "Estate" with Julie Mason - Live at the Sawmill, the Dan Papirany Trio's "Live at the MLC" and his own solo album "Harmony of the Ferocious" is due to be released. His duet album "Open Door" recorded with Mike Nock has just been re-released on CD.

He currently leads the Frank Gibson Quartet with which features Tom Dennison, Peter Koopman and Steve Sheriff