Bobby Previte
Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951, in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began professional relationships with John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, and Elliott Sharp.
Bobby Previte

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- Name
- Bobby Previte
- Born
- 16 July 1951
- Birthplace
- Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz
- Education
- University at Buffalo
- Honours
- Guggenheim Fellowship
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951, in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began professional relationships with John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, and Elliott Sharp.
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Bobby Previte (born 1951) is an American bandleader, composer and conductor, among other activities. The bandleader was born in New York City. Bobby Previte studied at University at Buffalo.
Genres include jazz. The bandleader received Guggenheim Fellowship.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q603314 · wikipedia · Bobby Previte
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bobby Previte • Born — 16 July 1951 • Birthplace — Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. • Genre — Jazz, rock, experimental • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Drums • Label — Palmetto • Website — www.bobbyprevite.com
Composer
Composer
Previte has received critical acclaim for his "exceptional abilities as a composer and orchestrator." A review of his 1988 album Claude's Late Morning reports that "Perhaps most striking is Previte's skill in composing music that fully integrates these disparate instruments — including drums and drum machine, electric guitar and keyboards, trombone, harp, accordion, banjo, pedal steel guitar, tuba, and harmonica — while emphasizing each instrument's unique, individual sound." Another critic notes Previte's "driving and propulsive compositions, featuring both fiery jazz expressionism and layered counterpoint that suggested elements of contemporary minimalism. In 1991, he wrote the score for "Cirk Valentin" (Moscow Circus on Stage), a stage show consisting of circus acts created by Valentin Gneushev that performed at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. Recent large-scale compositional works as of Spring 2007 include: • "The Constellations Ensemble," a chamber group touring the multi-media show, The 23 Constellations of Joan Miró. • "The Separation", a collaboration with writer/director Andrea Kleine "dealing with the role of religion in society. Based on the 15th-century composer Guilliaume Dufay's Missa Sancti Jacobi and written for early music pioneers the Rose Ensemble with electric band." • Illustration — Bobby Previte live at Saalfelden 2009
Performer
Performer
Previte has received excellent reviews and full articles in major newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian for playing a wide range of genres and venues and for qualities as diverse as his intellectual aesthetic to his ability "to groove." Recent and current projects as of Spring 2007 include: • "Dialed In," a solo electronic drum show collaboration with video artist Benton C Bainbridge. • The Coalition of the Willing, a guitar quartet featuring Charlie Hunter, Steven Bernstein and Jamie Saft. • "Strike", a new quartet with organist Marco Benevento and two saxophones. • "Groundtruther", a duo with Hunter. • "The Beta Popes", a power trio with Skerik and Saft. • "Swami LatePlate," a duo with Jamie Saft. Much of Previte's work is also improvisational. One of Previte's own favorite recorded improvisational collaborations was with John Zorn, "Euclid's Nightmare" (Depth of Field 1997). In the 1990s, he performed with the Seattle-based 100% improvisational musical collective Ponga with Wayne Horvitz, Skerik, and Dave Palmer. Previte has collaborated with Jamie Saft as "Swami Late Plate". Previte appeared in the movie Short Cuts, directed by Robert Altman. In 1997, he founded the record company and label Depth of Field.
As leader/co-leader
As leader/co-leader
• 1980: Pull to Open (Zoar) • 1985: Bump the Renaissance (Sound Aspects) • 1987: Pushing the Envelope (Gramavision) • 1987: Dull Bang, Gushing Sound, Human Shriek (Dossier) • 1988: Claude's Late Morning (Gramavision) • 1990: Empty Suits (Gramavision) • 1991: Weather Clear, Track Fast (Enja) • 1991: Music of the Moscow Circus (Gramavision) • 1993: Slay the Suitors (Avant) with Empty Suits • 1993: Hue and Cry (Enja) with Weather Clear, Track Fast • 1996: Too Close to the Pole (Enja) with Weather Clear, Track Fast • 1997: Euclid's Nightmare (Depth of Vision) with John Zorn • 1997: My Man in Sydney (Enja) with Latin for Travelers • 1998: In the Grass (Enja) with Marc Ducret • 1998: Downtown Lullaby (Depth of Vision) with John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz and Elliott Sharp • 1998: Dangerous Rip (Enja) with Latin for Travelers • 2002: The 23 Constellations of Joan Miró (Tzadik) • 2002: Just Add Water (Palmetto) with Bump • 2002: The Prisoner's Dilemma (Church of Grob) with Elliott Sharp • 2003: Counterclockwise (Palmetto) with Bump • 2003: Come in Red Dog, This Is Tango Leader (Ropeadope) with Charlie Hunter • 2004: Latitude (Thirsty Ear) as Groundtruther with Charlie Hunter and special guest Greg Osby • 2005: Longitude (Thirsty Ear) as Groundtruther with Charlie Hunter and special guest DJ Logic • 2006: The Coalition of the Willing (Ropeadope) • 2007: Altitude (Thirsty Ear) as Groundtruther with Charlie Hunter and special guest John Medeski • 2007: Doom Jazz (Veal) as Swami Lateplate with Jamie Saft • 2008: Set the Alarm for Monday (Palmetto) with The New Bump • 2008: White Hate (Veal) as Beta Popes with Jamie Saft and Skerik • 2008: Live Hate (Veal) as Beta Popes with Jamie Saft and Skerik • 2008: Big Guns (Auand) with Gianluca Petrella and Antonello Salis • 2009: Pan Atlantic (Auand) • 2012: Plutino (Spacebone) • 2014: Terminals (Cantaloupe) with Sō Percussion, Zeena Parkins, Greg Osby, Nels Cline and John Medeski • 2015: We Two Kings: Charlie Hunter and Bobby Previte Play the Great Carols (Rank Hypocrisy) with Charlie Hunter • 2016: Mass (RareNoise) with The Rose Ensemble, Stephen O'Malley, Marco Benevento, Jamie Saft, and Reed Mathis • 2022: Nine Tributes • 2022: 12 Galaxies with Charlie Hunter • 2022: Dark Current • 2023: Doom Jazz II (Subsound) as Swami Lateplate with Jamie Saft • 2023: Double Trouble with Ray Anderson • 2024: Pathways for Drum Set • 2025: Doppler with Mark Hellas • 2025: Previte Chandler with Knox Chandler • 2026: Visitor I: Parlor Organ • 2026: Second Arrow DVD • 2006: Live in Japan 2003 (Word Public) with Jamie Saft and Skerik • 2007: April in New York with Skerik, Zeena Parkins, Benton C Bainbridge, Elliott Sharp, and Marco Benvento • 2007: The Separation (Rank Hypocrisy) with Andrea Kleine
As sideman
As sideman
With Terry Adams • Terrible (New World, 1995) With Ray Anderson • Where Home Is (Enja, 1999) • Sweet Chicago Suite (Intuition, 2012) With The Bang • Omonimo (Nuevo, 1991) With Bob Belden • Black Dahlia (Blue Note, 2001) With Marco Benevento • Live at Tonic (Ropeadope, 2006) With Tim Berne • Pace Yourself (JMT, 1991) • Nice View (JMT, 1994) With Jane Ira Bloom • The Nearness (Arabesque, 1996) • The Red Quartets (Arabesque, 1999) • Sometimes the Magic (Arabesque, 2001) • Chasing Paint (Arabesque, 2003) • Like Silver, Like Song (Arabesque, 2004) • Wingwalker (Outline, 2011) • Early Americans (Outline, 2016) • Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson (Outline, 2017) With William S. Burroughs • Dead City Radio (Island, 1990) With Corporate Art • Corporate Art (JMT, 1991) With Paul Dresher and Ned Rothenberg • Opposites Attract (New World/CounterCurrents, 1991) With Marty Ehrlich • Pliant Plaint (Enja, 1988) • The Traveller's Tale (Enja, 1990) • Can You Hear a Motion? (Enja, 1994) • Malinke's Dance (OmniTone, 1999) • The Long View (Enja, 2002) With Carol Emanuel • Tops of Trees (Evva, 1995) With David Fulton • Marcos & Harry (Dossier, 1988) With David Garland • Togetherness: Control Songs, Vol. 2 (Ergodic, 1999) With Jerome Harris • Hidden in Plain View (New World) With Robin Holcomb • Larks, They Crazy (Sound Aspects, 1988) With Lindsey Horner • Don't Count On Glory (Cadence Jazz, 2005) With Bill Horvitz • Solo Electric Guitar Compositions for an 11-Solo Guitar & Ensemble Piece Ensemble (Ear-Rational, 1991) With Wayne Horvitz • Nine Below Zero (Sound Aspects, 1986) • The President (Dossier, 1987) • Todos Santos (Sound Aspects, 1988) • Bring Yr Camera (Elektra/Musician, 1988) • Miracle Mile (Elektra/Musician, 1992) • Mylab (Terminus, 2004) with Tucker Martine With Charlie Hunter • Let the Bells Ring On (There, 2015) • Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth (GroundUP, 2016) With Yoko Kanno • Cowboy Bebop Vitaminless (Victor [Japan], 1998) • Cowboy Bebop No Disc (Victor [Japan], 1998) • Cowboy Bebop Blue (Victor [Japan], 1999) With Guy Klucevsek • Flying Vegetables of the Apocalypse (Experimental Intermedia Foundation, 1991) • Polka Dots & Laser Beams (Eva, 1991) •?Who Stole the Polka? (Eva, 1991) With Makigami Koichi • Koroshi No Blues (Toshiba EMI, 1992) With The New York Composers Orchestra • The New York Composers Orchestra (New World, 1990) • First Program in Standard Time (New World/CounterCurrents, 1992) With Kirk Nurock • Remembering Tree Friends (Koch, 1998) With Seigen Ono • NekonoTopia NekonoMania (Saidera, 1990) • Bar Del Mattatoio (Saidera, 1994) • Montreux 93/94 (Saidera, 1990) With the Peggy Stern/Thomas Chapin Quintet • The Fuchsia (Koch, 1997) With Ponga • Ponga (Loosegroove, 1999) • The Ponga Remixes (Loosegroove, 1999) • Psychological (P-Vine, 2000) With Mike Pride • Drummer's Corpse (AUM Fidelity, 2013) With Bobby Radcliff • Early in the Morning (A-Okay, 1985) With Jamie Saft • Black Shabbis (Tzadik, 2009) • A Bag of Shells (Tzadik, 2010) • The New Standard (RareNoise, 2014) with Steve Swallow • Loneliness Road (RareNoise, 2017) with Steve Swallow and Iggy Pop With Jeffrey Schanzer • Vistas (Music Vistas, 1987) With Elliott Sharp • Virtual Stance (Dossier, 1985) • Fractal (Dossier, 1986) • Larynx (SST, 1987) • Sili/Contemp/Tation (Ear-Rational, 1990) • Arc 1: I/S/M 1980-1983 (Atavistic, 1996) • Arc 2: The Seventies 1972-79 (Atavistic, 1997) With The Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet • Voodoo (Black Saint, 1986) With Various Artists • Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (A&M, 1985) • Island of Sanity: New Music From New York City (No Man's Land, 1987) • Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus (Columbia, 1992) • Music from and Inspired by the Film Short Cuts (Imago, 1992) With Tom Varner • Covert Action (New Note, 1989) With Tom Waits • Rain Dogs (Island, 1985) With Victoria Williams • Happy Come Home (Geffen, 1987) With Andreas Willers • Cityscapes (Sound Aspects, 1993) With John Zorn • The Big Gundown (Nonesuch/Icon, 1985) • Cobra (Hat ART, 1987) • Spillane (Elektra/Nonesuch, 1987) • The Bribe (Tzadik, 1986 [1998]) • Filmworks VII: Cynical Hysterie Hour (CBS/Sony (Japan), 1989) • Filmworks 1986–1990 (Eva, 1990) • Filmworks III: 1990–1995 (Evva, 1995)
Identity
Identity
Bobby Previte is recorded as bandleader, composer, conductor, drummer and musician.
Bobby Previte live at Saalfelden 2009
Davide Leonardi
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Bobby Previte”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q603314: Bobby Previte
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1."Bobby Previte, Brandishing Pen And Drumsticks", The Washington Post, March 24, 2002. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- 2.[ Claude's Late Morning Review] Dave Lynch, AllMusic.com Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- 3.[ Empty Suits Review] AllMusic.com. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- 4.Biography , bobbyprevite.com. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- 5."A Drummer, Different And Yet In the Groove", The New York Times, October 1, 1998. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- 6.Bobby Previte, The Guardian, February 5, 2004. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- 7.Biography AllAboutJazz.com Retrieved October 24, 2007
- 8.Note by artist bobbyprevite.com, Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- 9.Short Cuts (1993), imdb.com, Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- 10.Roussel, P. Discography of Bobby Previte. Accessed August 12, 2016.
- 11.Bobby Previte discography , Accessed August 12, 2016.
References
Citations
References
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General reference
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People, houses and institutions
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Studied at
1- University at BuffaloOrganisation
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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