SKF NOTE: Excerpt #2 from my interview with Freddie Gruber in Buddy Rich’s NYC apartment circa 1983-84. Freddie was speaking about “legitimate” percussionists he’d studied with: Morris Goldenberg, Fred Albright, and Henry Adler. I asked if any of what he learned from those teachers was not valid for his, Freddie Gruber’s, own teaching practice.

“All of the things that they did were valid,” said Freddie.

Since his own playing seems mostly concerned with jazz ( “and bands,” Freddie interjected), why didn’t he study with jazz drummers?

This interview excerpt is Freddie’s answer to that question.