Senior Artist Teacher in Jazz Percussion
Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz
The Hartt Schoolemc6928@aol.com 860.768.5791 http://ericmcpherson.com/
Education
BM, The Hartt School, University of Hartford
The Hartt School awarded Eric a full scholarship to the school's renowned Jackie McLean Institute where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in music with top honors. While still a student, McLean invited Eric to join his band and a 15-year apprenticeship began. Eric takes his place in the continuum of McLean's most notable drum apprentices: Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, Billy Higgins and Michael Carvin.
When he was twelve, Eric began his formal drum training under the tutelage of master percussionist Michael Carvin. His mother, a professional dancer/actress, exposed Eric to her wide orbit of friends and colleagues like Max Roach, Charles Moffet and Freddie Dawoud Waits. These major innovators on their instruments would become Eric's primary influences. Eric is a graduate of the prestigious LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in New York City.
With McLean, the innovative pianist/composer, Andrew Hill, and other jazz masters, Eric has performed at the most coveted venues and festivals all over the world.
Eric's recording career reached a major milestone playing on Andrew Hill's classic recording, "Time Lines", winner of Downbeat's 2006 Album of the Year. He took part in a historic round table discussion on the state of jazz drumming in Modern Drummer Magazine (April '07). The other participants were Roy Haynes, Chico Hamilton, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Nasheet Waits and Marcus Gilmore.
Eric is a dedicated music educator who, aside from his responsibilities at Hartt, teaches private students, participates in New York City arts-in-education programs and conducts workshops and master classes worldwide.