Paul Wertico

Paul Wertico
Name	Paul Wertico
Birth date	1953-09-02
Birth place	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Jazz, Fusion, Progressive Rock
Occupations	Drummer, Educator, Composer
Instruments	Drums, Percussion
Years active	1970s–present
Associated acts	Pat Metheny, The Paul Wertico Trio, The Wertico Cain Trio, Mark Walker

Paul Wertico Paul Wertico (born September 2, 1953) is an American drummer and educator noted for his work in jazz, jazz fusion, and progressive music. He rose to prominence through long-term collaboration with guitarist Pat Metheny and has recorded and performed with a wide array of artists across jazz, rock, and world music scenes. Wertico's career spans performance, recording, composition, and pedagogy, with appointments at major institutions and numerous awards recognizing his contributions to contemporary drumming.

Early life and education

Wertico was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up amid the city's vibrant music scenes, including the clubs of North Side and venues associated with Chicago and The Blues Brothers. He studied percussion in the Chicago area and was influenced by performances at Great American Music Hall, The Village Gate, and local festivals such as the Newport Jazz Festival satellite events. Early mentors and influences included visiting artists associated with Modern Jazz Quartet, Miles Davis, and Tony Williams. He participated in regional ensembles tied to institutions like DePaul University and Chicago Musical College before embarking on a professional career.

Career

Wertico's national recognition grew when he joined the Pat Metheny Group in the early 1980s, contributing to albums and tours that intersected with milestones in contemporary jazz and fusion. During his tenure with Metheny he worked alongside musicians associated with ECM Records, Geffen Records, and artists who collaborated with Michael Brecker, Jaco Pastorius, and Lyle Mays. After leaving the Metheny ensemble, Wertico led projects that combined jazz improvisation with rock and world rhythms, forming ensembles such as the Paul Wertico Trio and the Wertico Cain Trio. He has performed at international festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Monterey Jazz Festival, and on stages shared with acts like Weather Report, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock.

Wertico's collaborations span recordings and live work with artists from diverse backgrounds: vocalists such as Bobby McFerrin and Janis Ian; instrumentalists such as John Scofield, Mike Stern, Kurt Elling, and Joshua Redman; and composers tied to contemporary classical crossovers. He has also contributed to film and television sessions linked to studios in Los Angeles and New York City.

Recordings and discography

Wertico's discography includes numerous albums as leader, co-leader, and sideman. Notable recordings with the Metheny group include albums that were released on labels associated with Warner Bros. Records and Geffen Records. As a leader he has released sessions on independent labels and collaborative projects featuring members of ensembles associated with Blue Note Records, ECM Records, and Artists House Records. His output encompasses studio albums, live recordings from venues such as Birdland, and cross-genre projects involving musicians tied to Nonesuch Records and Concord Records. He appears on collaborative recordings with artists who have recorded for Columbia Records, Verve Records, and RCA Records.

Awards and honors

Wertico has received multiple awards and honors from organizations and institutions that recognize jazz performance and recording. He was part of ensembles awarded including Grammy Award recognition during his time with prominent collaborators, and he has earned accolades from regional bodies such as the Chicago Music Awards and national organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts. He has been recognized by drumming publications and institutions associated with Modern Drummer and has received lifetime achievement and Hall of Fame-type acknowledgments from music industry bodies in Illinois and professional associations linked to Percussive Arts Society.

Teaching and pedagogy

Wertico has held faculty and artist-in-residence positions at institutions such as Northern Illinois University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and conservatories in the Chicago Loop and Midwest United States. He has conducted master classes and workshops at festivals and schools including Berklee College of Music, The Juilliard School, and Manhattan School of Music. His pedagogical work emphasizes improvisation, time-feel, and the application of polyrhythms across genres; he has produced instructional videos and contributed to curricula used in programs affiliated with The New School and community arts organizations supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Musical style and influences

Wertico's drumming blends elements from jazz fusion, progressive rock, and world music traditions. His style shows the influence of drummers associated with Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, and Billy Cobham, while incorporating textural approaches heard in artists who recorded with King Crimson and Pink Floyd. He often explores odd meters and metric modulation related to work by composers such as Steve Reich and performers associated with John Zorn. His use of dynamics and color reflects connections to guitarists and improvisers like Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola, and Pat Martino.

Personal life and collaborations

Wertico resides in the Chicago metropolitan area and remains active in regional and international scenes, collaborating with musicians linked to ensembles in Europe, Japan, and South America. His current and past collaborators include artists associated with The Paul Winter Consort, Arturo Sandoval, and jazz ensembles that have toured with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in crossover presentations. He participates in community music initiatives and professional organizations connected to the Percussive Arts Society and offers regular performances at venues tied to the Chicago Jazz Festival and local arts institutions.

Category:American jazz drummers Category:Musicians from Chicago Category:Living people Category:1953 births