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Peter Donald

A much varied career as a jazz drummer, teacher and music producer.

About Me

Peter Donald attended the Berklee School of Music and, while studying composition, played drums in the local Boston clubs with many jazz groups, including Al Cohn-Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Charlie Mariano, Paul Bley and John Abercrombie.

Since 1971, Peter has lived in Los Angeles, and has worked and recorded with such pop acts as Helen Reddy, Olivia Newton-John, Peter Allen and Toni Braxton. He has done a variety of television and film work as a player, producer and musical contractor and was executive producer of Dick Halligan & Associates, an L.A. based commercial and film music house.

Peter has recorded and toured with the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band, winner of Downbeat’s Critics and Readers Poll, and singer Carmen McRae. He was a member of the John Abercrombie Quartet, a cooperative group which he co-founded. The quartet toured extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan and played many major jazz festivals including Newport-New York, Monterey, Northseas and Antibes.

From 1985 to 1992, Peter was director of the Percussion Program at the Grove School of Music in L.A. while continuing to work and record with various groups including the Denny Zeitlin Trio and the prestigious L.A. based Bob Florence Limited Edition. From 1992 through 2002, Peter brought his varied professional experience to bear in his capacity as a partner and music supervisor for the internationally known advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. He then formed 2beat productions, a music consulting & production company which was active in the field of commercials and recordings. Out of the production and agency experience 2beat morphed into Jazz Planet which licenses jazz exclusively for film, broadcast and theatrical production. Peter also currently co- leads a trio called “3prime” with pianist Tom Rainier and bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr.