Kimberly Thompson

Gretsch Artist Since: 2005

Country: US

Band or Affiliations: Kimberly Thompson Jazz Quartet, Mike Stern

Current Kit Setup:
USA Custom in Savanah Sunset Duco
16x20” BD, 7x10” RT, 8x12” RT, 14x14” FT, 16x16” FT, 5x14” SD
6.5x14” Aluminum Snare w/ Wood Hoops

Influences:
Ben Riley, Lewis Nash, Herbie Hancock. Friends, family and art. Life, nature, peace & harmony and music!!!

We asked...Why Gretsch?:
"Gretsch Drums are well rounded and tonal drums, which make it pliable to tell a story or gather a sonic platform for high profile playing."

Advice to aspiring musicians?:
"Work hard and never give up your dreams. Be yourself and do what it is you believe you are here to do. Create your own art with your own voice. "

Bio:
Kimberly Thompson is a three time Grammy winner and noted drummer & vocalist whose success has traversed from performing with legendary jazz icons, Kenny Barron, Marian McPartland, Mike Stern, & Terence Blanchard to the center of television as composer & house drummer for the NBC network TV show Late Night w/Seth Meyers Season1 & house drummer for The NBC Upfronts hosted by NBC, to world tours of pop culture music with artists Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, & George Michaels. In addition to touring and recording, Kimberly has performed in commercialized movie for Chanel N05 w/Baz Lurhmann& Giselle Bundchen, Soundtrack compositional for Jeff Goldblum covering the Jurassic Parkthemed film & commercials for Citibank featuring artist Alicia Keys; secondary accomplishment to preparing her all female drumline bootcamp for the Black Girls Rocks performance debut "This Girl is on Fire".

Kimberly has promoted & performed nationwide/international tours for Beyonce' Knowles via television The View, MTV, BET, Grammy Awards, & World Music Awards; leading her to a 1st won Best Video credential song titled "Countdown" directed by Adria Petty, produced by Beyonce' Knowles.

When having down time as an international side women instrumentalist, Kimberly tours with her own band as a bandleader most of Europe & the United States, as well as building a school of teachings for furthering drum and art education with students of all ages around the world, establishing her company & record label ©KTMUSICPRODUCTIONS.

Kimberly is the President of a music label established as ©KTMUSICPRODUCTIONS, a Harlem, NY based company committed to encouraging compelling instrumentalist, lyricism and storytelling by artists, & songwriters. At its core is Thompson’s own trademark mix of electric sounds, modern beats, & melodic jazz instrumentation.

On her current Jazz CD release, (A Child’s Eyes) featuring her quartet, Kimberly debuts her dynamic jazz drumming chops in a selection of newly composed original songs. Born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in St. Louis, MO., Kimberly earned her Bachelor of Music Arts in Jazz Composition & Education from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music (NY).