Bobby Previte

Bobby Previte "can break your heart with one cymbal crash."

Bobby Previte began his life in music as a great way to meet girls, but then fell in love with the drums instead. At thirteen, he fashioned his first set out of a rusted iron garbage can turned on its side (the bass drum), four upside-down rubber trash bins (the toms), a box with loose junk rattling around inside (the snare), three plungers with aluminum pie plates nailed on top, (the cymbals), and two pieces of linoleum crimped together, stuck through with a wire coat hanger wound into a spring, crowned with a rubber ball on top (the kick pedal)•and for hours on end would play to records in his dark basement with a lone spotlight shining on him. Eventually hired by a band, he rehearsed with them for a year, only to get fired the day of the first booking for not having "real" drums. After this experience he decided to strike out on his own, and has been doing so ever since.

Brought up playing soul and rock music in the old bars,clubs, and bordellos of Niagara Falls, NY, he later studied formally at the University of Buffalo, which boasted musicians John Cage, Lucas Foss, Morton Feldman, and Jan Williams. He then ran head on into Miles Davis, Edgard Varèse, Charles Mingus, Terry Reilly, Abstract Expressionism, Igor Stravinsky, Frank Lloyd Wright, George Balanchine and William Faulkner. That was that.

He moved to New York City in 1979, with great fortune quickly met the leading lights of the “Downtown” scene, settled in, and never looked back. For twenty-five years he has remained a leader, widely hailed for his electrifying drumming and his stunning, unclassifiable compositions.

He has played an astonishing range of genres and venues, from the Palace Burlesque House in Buffalo, NY to country music at Gloria’s Corral Club in the Kentucky backwoods (complete with, yes, a real corral surrounding the bandstand) to Carnegie Hall, and has presented his music at the major festivals around the world, from Europe to Russia, Japan to South America, and back.

The subject of articles in the world's major publications as well as in many books on music, Previte leads more bands than he probably should, and has added the electronic drums to his ever widening arsenal.

He remains committed to form. And to beauty, in all its forms.

16 New Releases... and much more!

by Jon Greenbaum
August 31, 2026

Many new releases are coming out this summer and fall! In this archived radio transmission we highlight quite a few of the most interesting new albums.Playlist Bobby Previte “Stroll" from Second Arrow (Unit Records) 00:00:00 Anna Webber's Simple Trio “Underhelmed" from Binary (Skirl Records) 00:08:41 NICOLAS LEIRTRØ'S ACTION NOW! “Action Now" from Entrance (Sheep Chase Records) 00:14:25 Toša “Pohádka" from Opatrně (Ma Records) 00:23:18 Darius Jones Quartet & Emilie Lesbros “Two Worlds, One Soul" from Le bébé de ...

Radio & Podcasts

Collin Walcott, Yussef Kamaal, Max Roach, Bobby Previte And More.

by Lawrence Peryer
June 18, 2026

This episode of Rotations uses jazz as a spine but refuses to stay on it. We start with Collin Walcott's sitar-laced ECM reverie and Max Roach's 1968 post-bop intensity, move on to Bobby Previte's long-awaited return to small band writing and Randy Weston's luminous live performance at Montreux. Then it's the Belgian absurdism of Flat Earth Society and the crystalline drift of Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore closing things out. Nearly sixty years of music in an hour, held together ...

Radio & Podcasts

Bobby Previte, These Things Happen & Hannah Marks

by Maurice Hogue
June 8, 2026

The new releases sampled in this episode of One Man's Jazz feature music created by smaller groups, like drummer Bobby Previte with his first full band recording in a few years, the US-Netherlands quartet, These Things Happen (Keefe Jackson, Oscar Jan Hoogland, Jason Roebke, & Mikel Patrick Avery), The Klezmatics with guests William Parker & James Brandon Lewis, saxophonist Michael Foster supported by the premier European rhythm section of bassist Christian Weber & drummer Michael Griener, another European trio of ...

Album Review

Terry Adams: Terrible [Deluxe Edition]

Read "Terrible [Deluxe Edition]" reviewed by Dave Linn

by Dave Linn
February 19, 2024

Terry Adams is best known for his work with the seminal band, NRBQ (New Rhythm & Blues Quartet). Their self-titled debut (Columbia, 1969), included Sun Ra's “Rocket Number Nine." The follow-up was a collaboration with early rock legend Carl Perkins called Boppin' The Blues. In 1974 singer, songwriter, and guitarist extraordinaire, Big Al Anderson and drummer Tom Ardolino joined the band. For the next 20 years that lineup thrilled live audiences around the world. In 1994, Anderson (dismayed by the ...

Multiple Reviews

Bobby Previte: Boom-Boom. Due volte Boom

by Vic Albani
October 3, 2022

Dopo sostanziali anni di attività per certi versi limitata, il genio Bobby Previte torna a cavalcare comete musicali di infinita bellezza e intelligenza. Credo esistano ben pochi musicisti così profondi, analitici, curiosi ed allo stesso tempo così schivi e umili come Previte, da sempre nel cuore di ogni illuminato cultore di musiche moderne. Illuminato forse proprio perché la musica del batterista di New York di origini italiane rischiara il buio dai tempi dello straordinario Bump the Renaissance del ...

Radio & Podcasts

Bobby Previte, Angles, Roxana Amed, The Comet Is Coming & More New Releases

by Ludovico Granvassu
August 23, 2022

This week we feature some great examples of how tradition continues to fuel modern jazz projects, and the many ways in which jazz incorporates elements from other musical traditions (from Korea to Spain) and genres (from the blues to rave music).Happy listening!PlaylistBen Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Bobby Previte, Charlie Hunter “Blues in D" 12 Galaxies (SideHustle) 0:16 Host talks 4:25 Bobby Previte “Hunter" Nine Tributes (SideHustle) 5:35 Host talks ...

Album Review

Wayne Horvitz: Live Forever Vol. 1: The President - New York in the '80s

Read "Live Forever Vol. 1: The President - New York in the '80s" reviewed by Vic Albani

by Vic Albani
March 15, 2021

«Numero 1 della Live Forever Series: una collezione di spettacoli dal vivo curata da Wayne Horvitz e Toby Dodds. Il volume 1 contiene un imperversante set dal vivo al CBGBs nel 1987, con un “who's who" della scena downtown NY degli anni '80. Altre tracce includono quattro demo, materiale mai pubblicato dalle sessioni al Power Station per l'album Bring Yr Camera, precedenti demo in studio del 1984, e materiale da due spettacoli dal vivo, sempre al CBGBs, nel ...

Contest

Enter the "Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte - The New Standard" Giveaway!

Source: All About Jazz
July 10, 2014

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the RareNoiseRecords “Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte - The New Standard“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on August 10th Click here to enter the contest (Tracking Jamie Saft at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at RareNoiseRecords About The New Standard While Jamie Saft has been a significant presence on previous RareNoise recordings by Slobber Pup, Plymouth ...
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Recording

Jamie Saft Joins Steve Swallow And Bobby Previte On The New Standard

Source: Antje Hübner
April 21, 2014

Collaborative Outing Strikes The Jazziest Chord In The RareNoise Catalog While Jamie Saft has been a significant presence on previous RareNoise recordings by Slobber Pup, Plymouth and Metallic Taste of Blood, the renegade keyboardist and essential Downtown improviser steps into a dramatically different role on The New Standard. A collaborative trio outing featuring the dream rhythm tandem of drummer Bobby Previte and bassist Steve Swallow, both prolific composers and venerable bandleaders in their own right, it showcases Saft alternating between ...
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Performance / Tour

Jane Ira Bloom Trio with Mark Helias & Bobby Previte at Cornelia Street Cafe on June 13th

Source: Michael Ricci
June 12, 2010

Soprano saxophonist, composer and former NASA artist Jane Ira Bloom brings her trio to Cornelia Street Cafe for the first time on June 13th with long-time bandmates bassist Mark Helias and drummer Bobby Previte. They're fresh out of the recording studio with new compositions from Bloom's latest project that jetison the band into zero-g and beyond.

Don't miss these seasoned sonic explorers as they navigate the space ways.

Cornelia St Cafe 29 Cornelia St New York, ...
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111

Performance / Tour

Doom Jazz to Bring New Twist to Old Music

Source: All About Jazz
September 24, 2008

The University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center will kick off its seventh Solos & Duos Series Thursday night with Doom Jazz: A Duo with Bobby Previte and Jamie Saft. Previte and Saft take traditional jazz rhythms, slow them down, and blend them flawlessly with dark black metal tones using an electric bass and an ominous sounding piano, to create a gripping and entrancing experience. Though technically a duo, this project could be considered a piano trio, with Previte on drums ...
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150

Event

"This is Our Music IV" Presents Bobby Previte, Michael Blake and Knucklebean in Brooklyn on June 11!

Source: All About Jazz
June 5, 2008

Friends of SOUND! Please join us at “This Is Our Music IV" on June 11 in Brooklyn, when we present the Bobby Previte/Briggan Krauss Duo, Michael Blake Trio featuring Ben Allison and Michael Sarin and, of course, Knucklebean! Come be a part of this special night! Know what's below, yo... WHO: Bobby Previte/Briggan Krauss Duo + Michael Blake Trio with Ben Allison and Michael Sarin + Knucklebean WHAT: “This Is Our Music IV" - Curated by Brad Farberman WHEN: Wednesday, ...
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161

Recording

Bobby Previte & the New Bump "Set the Alarm for Monday" Available May 13th

Source: All About Jazz
May 7, 2008

New York, NY - On May 13, 2008 Palmetto Records will release Set the Alarm for Monday. For his first release on Palmetto Records, composer and drummer Bobby Previte brings us The New Bump, a logical musical extension of Previte's original Bump The Renaissance bands. Sonically intriguing and cinematically centered, Set The Alarm For Monday grooves as only Previte can. Matt Balitsaris says: “To me the best records are those which are conceived as a single work, rather than simply ...
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Performance / Tour

Bobby Previte and The Coalition of the Willing, November, 5 2006 at North Star Bar in Philadelphia

Source: All About Jazz
October 31, 2006

In the great tradition of instrumental, electric guitar-fueled rock comes Bobby Previte's “super bar band," The Coalition of the Willing a new and exciting powerhouse machine pulling together musicians from different worlds to play Previte's twisting, hard hitting tunes. Featuring the legendary Charlie Hunter, putting aside his eight string guitar to pick up a six string for the first time in years; Skerik, tenor saxophone electro wizard of Critters Buggin', Les Claypool, and countless others; and special guest this tour ...
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116

Recording