By Brett Ratner

ernard Purdie is one of the most recorded drummers in history.

While most musicians of Purdie's caliber and experience may prefer to let their resume' do the talking, the legendary session artist has no problem expressing his thoughts on what makes a good drummer and a great drum set.

The Amplifier recently caught up with Purdie after his very successful performance at N.A.M.M. in January. The Slingerland booth earned distinction as one of the highest draws of the event. With Purdie, Gregg Bissonette and The Tonight Show's "Smitty" Smith, Michael White engaged in half-hour long continuous drum romps, who could doubt why?

"It was absolutely dynamite," Purdie said. "What happened is that basically, I would hold the time and hold the groove together. And allow all my cohorts to do their thing."

Purdie says he likes providing the glue while other people exercise their chops.

" I am called "Father Time" I guess, "Time Machine" and that's what I do best," Purdie said. "I keep time. I keep everybody happy. I keep the groove happening, and I keep the energy. And I like that profession."

One of the things Purdie enjoys about his profession is working with top notch artists like Bissonette.

"I'm flabbergasted by Gregg wanting to play with me and do clinics together because I am impressed by his playing and have been for a long time," Purdie said. "The thing that impresses me the most is that he also has the feel. And it's not about competition, it's about wanting to play. It's about wanting to enjoy the instrument. We both have an idea of what we want to do and it comes across that way. So it's a love affair that we end up having. And because of the respect we have for one another as players, it makes things so much easier.

Purdie also has a "love affair" with his new signature set of Slingerland drums.

"I'm a super happy person to be playing on my own drums," Purdie said. "I am so impressed by what Slingerland has dome for me and doing what I asked to be done with the drums only made it so much nicer."

So what's so nice about them?

"All of the designs are my own," Purdie said. "My own ideas, my sizes, the feel of the drums, now we're also working on the hardware. It's so much nicer to have that kind of rapport with the company (Slingerland's Pat Foley and Josh Touchton)."

Building rapport is an ability which helps Purdie succeed as a musician.

"I'm not somebody who can hang out with the superstars, I don't usually do that," Purdie said. "I stay out of their way. That seems to work. I don't infringe on their time. That's how I've gotten along with Aretha Franklin for the 25 years. I don't get in their way, and when my job is done, I go ahead and go about my business."

While it's important for musicians to respect the artist they are recording with, Purdie also notes that the respect has to be mutual.

"The biggest thing is that in the studio, it's totally different," Purdie said, referring to the way stars handle themselves. "In the studio, every artist that is successful will bend and go along with the program with the musicians. Because the musicians are the ones who make or break the record. The stars gotta give them, what they want. They are the ones who come to us. And they're smart enough to know that, and when the job is done, they go right back to who they really are. But they are smart people by allowing us to do our jobs. Not do our jobs for us."

Purdie certainly did his job at N.A.M.M.

"It was the debut of the [new Bernard Purdie Slingerland] drum set," Purdie said. And people like it.

Purdie says that they key to a successful drum set, as well as any other endeavor, is putting your passion behind it.

"I enjoy what I do and I believe in my drums and the profession that I'm in," Purdie said. "But I'm also a realist. I know what it means to sell. You gotta have something to offer. And Slingerland does have something to offer."