Drummer & Arranger Eric Thompson's ensembles always pull an all-star crew of musicians not to be missed!
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Eric Thompson graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in Jazz Studies, studying with Fred Buda, Cecil McBee, and Danilo Perez. After graduation Erick moved to New York City, where he continued to perform, record, and tour; both nationally and internationally as a performer and clinician. He has performed with such greats as: Joe Lovano George Garzone, Danilo Perez, John McNeil, Carmen Bradford, and Rufus Reid.
Thompson’s rudimental career began in Cedar Rapids, where he marched with the Emerald Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, and finished his marching years as a two-member (1989 & 1991) of the world champion Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps. He also performed in the All-American College Band at Disneyland, and the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band-where he also arranged and instructed.
As an instructor, consultant, and arranger, Thompson served on the Colts percussion staff in 1994; The Emerald Knights percussion staff in 2000 and the percussion staff of the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps from 2005-2009. Eric is one of the inaugural members of the percussion staff for the Grant Wood All-City Flag & Drum Corps, based in Cedar Rapids.
Presently, Thompson is the leader of his own band: “Eric Thompson’s Fun-Time Music Hour," a continuing member of New York’s Guaranteed Swahili; Equilateral, a chord-less jazz quartet, based in Iowa City, IA, and “Local on the 8s." Thompson arranges and consults with multiple marching bands and drum corps and regularly holds rudimental and drum-set master-classes as a part of his new personal business: “Thompson’s Drum Pad" specializing in marching battery percussion and drum-set instruction. Additionally, he is Corps Director for Coastal Surge Drum & Bugle Corps in Myrtle Beach, SC.
He is an artist/performer with SABIAN cymbals and endorses Vic Firth sticks as a member of their education team, marching percussion specialist.
