KIM PLAINFIELD 1954 – 2017
“It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Drummers Collective Faculty Chairman, Kim Plainfield. Kim had a huge heart, strong opinions, and a passion for teaching and life.
KIM PLAINFIELD 1954 – 2017
We just received a sad email from The Collective School of Music about the passing of drummer Kim Plainfield:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Drummers Collective Faculty Chairman, Kim Plainfield. Kim had a huge heart, strong opinions, and a passion for teaching and life. He was an irreplaceable asset to The Collective, being a huge part of our 40 year history since the beginning of his tenure in 1979. His spirit and impact as a teacher will live on forever. We have lost a mentor, teacher, friend, and brother. Kim was an extremely talented drummer who knew when to be serious but always found time for a laugh. We are all attempting to comprehend this devastating news since Kim meant a lot to all of us. He touched countless students’ lives as he prepared them for careers in music, always getting the best out of each of them. We are all grateful that we were lucky enough to have had him in our lives. We are awaiting word from Kim’s family regarding the arrangements and will inform everyone so they can pay their respects. We will also be planning an event at the school to celebrate Kim’s life and contribution to the drumming and music world as well as to The Collective. We will miss you. Rest In peace, Kim”
Bio:
Kim Plainfield, drummer, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, has been based in New York since 1977. He has accumulated numerous performance and recording credits during his professional career, which he started in earnest at the age of 19 when he began playing with Mingo Lewis and subsequently secured the drum chair with the Pointer Sisters.
Some three years later, at the age of 22, Kim moved to New York City where Kenwood Dennard introduced him to the Drummers Collective. This is where Kim’s pedagogical career took hold. He then started playing with Bill Connors, the world-renowned guitarist from Chick Corea’s original Electric Band, and Didier Lockwood, the unparalleled French jazz violinist. Recordings, where Kim participated, that deserve mention are “Double Up” and “Assembler” by Bill Connors and “Live At The Olympia” by Didier Lockwood. All three recording are considered icons of contemporary fusion music. Worldwide, Kim is one of the first addresses when looking for modern drumming. His unbelievable technical abilities and versatile musicality bring audiences to enthusiastic amazement. He is a drummer of true and deep and organic musicality.
Kim began to receive international recognition during his seven-year engagement with Tania Maria. During that period, he toured extensively in the US, Europe, Central America, South America, The Caribbean and the Far East. Additional performance and recording credits include Jon Lucien, Andy Narell, John Pattitucci, Kenny Rankin, Jacques Higelin, Charles Fambrough, Edgar Winter and Mose Allison.
Kim embarked on a solo career in 1993 and has since been touring Europe as a leader, at least twice a year, to ever increasing audiences and superb press reviews. His groups have included world class musicians such as Lincoln Goines, Bill O’Connell, Didier Lockwood, Mark Soskin and Tom Kennedy.
To quote some:
“The starring performance of the Kim Plainfield Trio on Saturday in the Neodrom simply left no wishes unsatisfied for musical strength and creative richness.” (Josef Fichtner: Musikmagazin Amberg).
“The concert was an organic whole with perfect technique, taste and yes, musicality” (Andreas Ascherl: Amberger Stadtnachrichten)
“Kim Plainfield played drums much the same way that (Jon) Lucien sang, in the sense that he created intensity through pure conviction and an unrelenting sense of groove. His superb technical command was obvious, but he never exploited it by setting off percussive fireworks. His fire was constant and very hot.”
(Rick Mattingly: The Courier-Journal)
Kim’s debut CD, ‘Night and Day’, is a joint project with Lincoln Goines. He is a signed recording artist with EFA Records in Europe and Shiosai Records in Japan. This recording effort features the world-class musicians Jon Lucien, Mino Cinelo, Bill O’Connell, Alex Foster, Didier Lockwood, Myra Casales, Dan Carillo, Bill Connors, Adam Holzman and Pat Thrall.
Kim’s second CD as a leader, ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, is scheduled to be released in November 2011 with the ESC label. This project features Sheryl Bailey on Guitar, Bill O’Connell on Piano and Lincoln Goines on Bass.
As an educator, Kim is Chairman of the Faculty at The Collective in New York City where he has taught since 1979. In the fall of 2002 Kim accepted an Associate Professor position at Berklee School of Music. His first book “Advanced Concepts” is known as the bible of modern progressive drumming. His second, “Fusion: A Study In Contemporary Music For The Drums”, was released by Carl Fischer Publications and is distributed by Hal Leonard Publications. He has conducted countless clinics in Europe, the United States, Japan and Central America, as well as extended artist-in-residence programs at various conservatories in Europe. In November of 2002 Kim was featured clinician at the International Percussive Arts Society Convention in Columbus, Ohio. In February of 2012 he received the distinct honor of a promotion to full Professor at Berklee College of Music.
Currently Kim continues to tour as a leader, performing in Italy, Germany, France, Spain and Austria. Since 2010 he joined the renowned Outreach Orchestra which features world class musicians such as John Clark, Dave Taylor, Adam Holzman, Mino Cinelo and Franz Hackl.
Kim passed away unexpectedly on the evening of Saturday, April 9
