Kevin Bresnahan Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 (edited) Musicians on Facebook are posting of the passing of drummer Mickey Roker this morning at the age of 84. No obit as of yet. I had no idea that he was that old. I thought he was at least 10 years younger than that. Edited May 22, 2017 by Kevin Bresnahan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Friedman Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 Very very sorry to hear this sad news. I saw Mickey Roker in person a few times and have him on countless recordings. He was a damn good drummer and will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 wow, sad news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HutchFan Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 Sorry to hear this sad news. He was a wonderful drummer, and he played on so many special recordings. R.I.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 Very, very sad to hear this. He was Milt Jackson's choice to replace Connie Kay in the MJQ. Very soulful musician, and powered so many Pablo dates. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danasgoodstuff Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 I've come to appreciate his work much more recently. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 I didn't realize he was still living. RIP, Mickey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 (edited) So sorry to hear this - one of my favourites, stalwart of many 'Liberty' era Blue Note sessions and that fine band with Dizzy Gillespie. Not sure I ever got to see him - although actually saw his name outside Ronnie Scotts no longer than 4 or 5 years ago, not sure who he was touring with. Sadly, I couldn't check out that gig. Extremely versatile, tasteful and foot tappingly good drummer. RIP. "Damn good". Yes - exactly. Edited May 22, 2017 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bresnahan Posted May 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 Great interview with Mickey from a few years back: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mickey-roker-you-never-lose-the-blues-mickey-roker-by-victor-l-schermer.php?pg=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardbopjazz Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 RIP Mickey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulpope Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 R.I.P .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 Helluva life, one not wasted one bit. RIP and thanks for decades of inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyril Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 (edited) Very sad news. R.I.P Mickey. Edited May 22, 2017 by Cyril Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 I saw him perform with Dizzy Gillespie in 1978, and he was outstanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felser Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 He played drums with Shirley Scott during a benefit concert at the Ethical Society in Philly back ca. 1990. Got to talk to him for a good while, and he was very kind. Quite a drummer, entered my consciousness in the first two jazz albums I every bought in 1972 (both on the same trip to Franklin Music), Lee Morgan's "Live at the Lighthouse" and the Blue Note "Best of Herbie Hancock". Led the house band for many years at Philly's Ortlieb's Jazzhaus, though I never got there. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 Bad week for drummers - R.I.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalupa Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Sad day. I was lucky to see Mickey play at Ortlieb's many, many times backing up Shirley Scott and, after she left, as a leader in his own right. He always had some amazing musician sitting w/ him - Cecil Payne, Jimmy Oliver, Johnny Coles. Last time I saw him perform was around 2006 w/ Von Freeman (his only Philly performance). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Sad news. An artist of quality. I may have seen him with Dizzy but I can't be sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Damn.......... I thought he passed a few years ago actually, so this was a shock. I love his playing on Lee's "Lighthouse" date and "Gene Harris Trio Plus 1" especially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin V Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 He is one of my favorite drummers. I long wanted to see him perform live, but I never had the opportunity. Thank you for the music, Mr. Roker, and rest in peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gheorghe Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Really sad news, he was a fantastic drummer. Saw him on several occasions, mostly with Diz. That great quartet Diz had with Rodney Jones, Benjamin Franclin Brown and Mickey Roker , a fantastic group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bresnahan Posted May 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 A few tributes/obituaries have come out... http://wbgo.org/post/mickey-roker-dynamic-hard-bop-drummer-and-philly-jazz-institution-dies-84#stream/0 https://jazztimes.com/news/drummer-mickey-roker-dies-at-84/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) Just learned about this from the Darmstadt Jazz Institute newsletter - one of the grooviest drummers ever, and one of the best at bossa nova rhythm among jazz drummers. Edited June 1, 2017 by mikeweil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted June 2, 2017 Report Share Posted June 2, 2017 I have also loved his drumming. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.