Leon "Ndugu" Chancler

Leon Ndugu Chancler ( born July 1, 1952 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American jazz drummer and music producer.

Chancler grew from 1960 in Los Angeles and learned from the age of twelve drums. Already as a student he played with Willie Bobo and Gerald Wilson; then he studied at the "Californian State College ". In 1970 he collaborated with Hugh Masekela and for the first time with Herbie Hancock, in the years he has performed with Thelonious Monk, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris, Harold Land, Miles Davis and Joe Henderson, but also took with Julian Priester, Hampton Hawes, and with the Santana Blues Band on. Between 1972 and 1980 he also played regularly with George Duke. Since 1972, he also served as producer for Flora Purim, Bill Summers or Kenny Rogers operates, then even for Michael Jackson, whose album " Thriller ", he also sat on the drums.

Chancler led his own groups, where he worked with Alphonso Johnson and Ernie Watts, but also worked with Weather Report and the Jazz Crusaders; He also went with Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter on tour. He has also worked for Stanley Clarke, Donna Summer, Hubert Laws, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner and John Lee Hooker.

With Patrice Rushen he forms the duo 1 ONE. He also performs with Rushen, Ernie Watts and Alphonso Johnson. Ndugu teaches in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California.

Lexigraphischer entry

• Martin Kunzler jazz lexicon. Vol 2 Reinbek 2002. ISBN 3-499-16513-9