Jacksonville and surrounding communities.
www.jazzalliancenetwork.webs.com
Ralph Morris Penland was a modest
virtuoso of the drums who loved to teach, but performing was his life. The
prolific jazz drummer and Cincinnati native worked with a Who’s Who in the jazz
world.
Mr. Penland died on March 13 from
complications of a stroke. He was 61.
Despite the many superstars with
whom he performed, from Frank Sinatra to Miles Davis, Mr. Penland remained
quiet, humble and a devoted Jehovah’s Witness, his family said. He was an
active performer, clinician and faculty member at Pasadena City College in
California.
He graduated from Taft High School,
where he studied drums and performed in many ensembles – including a program
with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which he recalled in an interview years
later. As a teen, he played with some of the best of Cincinnati’s jazz
community, which laid the foundation for a life in jazz.
When it comes to putting a 'focus' on Jazz music, you need only to check out Gene Perla and his group,
"Fleetwing" but on this night Gene was playing with a special guest, the profound, Dave Liebman, on
Soprano Sax, some really great music to hear!