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Doc Gibbs & New World Review
February 19, 2011 @ 11:30 am
Philly native, Doc Gibbs is one of the most sought after percussionist in the music industry today. Whether he’s recording, touring or kickin’ it up a notch with Emeril Lagasse, Doc musically operates on his audiences with funky rhythms and with his vast assortment of traditional and unusual percussion instruments.
Doc received his so-called”Doc”-torate from the late, legendary jazz saxophonist, Grover Washington, Jr. While recording Grover’s Live at the Bijou album in 1976, Grover acknowledged Doc for prescribing an herbal remedy for a nasty cold that Grover was suffering from the night before taping. Over night, Leonard Gibbs became Doc when Grover announced to his audience, “…There are two doctors in Philly…Dr.J (of the 76ers) and Doctor Gibbs”. A nickname that appropriately describes a musician who truly performs with the precision of a surgeon.
Doc’s love of hand drums and percussion instruments began in the early seventies, when he left the Pennsylvania Academy of Fines Art to pursue his real dream – a career as a master percussionist. Early in his career, Doc immediately caught the attention of the music industry’s top artists, to include Freddie Hubbard, Nancy Wilson, Bob James, Al Jarreau, Ricki Lee Jones, David Sanborn, and Anita Baker, along with contemporary Grammy artists such as Erykah Badu, and Wyclef Jean.
BAM!!! The icing on the cake for Doc came in 1997, when he became the musical director for the Emeril Live Show! On the cable Food Network. Doc has been adding his funky flavors of hand drums and signature percussion instruments for a little extra spice into the pots of cooking guru, Emeril Lagasse, as Doc Gibbs and the Emeril Live Band.
Doc is a lecturer, presenter on the history of hand percussion from Africa and the Diaspora and the US. He facilitates drum workshops and programs for youth (Drums for Peace), colleges (Percussion Discussion Labs) and corporate America (Rhythms Retreat)
He performs and tours with his contemporary Latin jazz band, Doc Gibbs & Infusion.