Bio
Bernie Dresel has been one of the busiest studio and live musicians in the world as both a drummer and percussionist since moving to Los Angeles in 1983 after graduating from the prestigious Eastman School of Music. He has traveled the world, occupying the coveted drum chair for Grammy Award-winning Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band since its inception in 1999. And also, for an overlapping 15 years (1992 to 2006), he was the drummer for the multi-Grammy Award-winning Brian Setzer Orchestra, selling close to 4 million records. Modern Drummer magazine’s readers’ poll named Bernie “Best Big Band Drummer” and Drum! Magazine has put him on their list of “53 Drummers Who Made a Difference in the ’90s” as well as honoring him with a Drummie® for Best Big Band Drummer.
Bernie Dresel’ s jazz orchestra, The BBB, is without question one of Los Angeles’ most exciting large jazz ensembles, if not on the planet. It is one of the most innovative and original hard-swinging large jazz ensembles ever. The BBB provides potent testimony to the sheer exhilaration of big band jazz...a combination of intense swing and fiery soloing, as well as tight ensemble playing, powered by Bernie Dresel’s extraordinary drumming talents.
The BBB is comprised of 16 seasoned pros on the Los Angeles studio scene. Populated by LA’s finest players, The BBB delivers a contemporary, highly original sound featuring the witty, intricate, and hard-swinging compositions of established and up-and-coming composers and arrangers. And like those other famous jazz orchestras such as Buddy Rich’s, Count Basie’s, Woody Herman’s, Stan Kenton’s, Maynard Ferguson’s, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis’ and Gerald Wilson’s, the music and delivery of The BBB’s music is nothing less than astonishing when experienced live. The sound has a contemporary, dynamic, and hard-swinging energy, with a focused edge to it that is like no other jazz orchestra, though, reminiscent of Buddy Rich’s ensembles. The band make-up is unique in that there is no piano but jazz/rockin’ electric guitar instead, in addition to four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, and upright acoustic slap bass and drums. When people hear Bernie’s BBB, the first thing that hits them is its energy and intensity.
At the helm of The BBB is jazz drummer extraordinaire Bernie Dresel. Bernie is the first-call drummer and percussionist on the Hollywood stage for motion picture and television soundtracks. Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Tower Of Power, among many others established and new jazz orchestra composers and arrangers, fill the book for the music his band makes today. And like those other bands, Dresel’s rendering style is nothing less than exciting, driven by one of the most accomplished jazz drummers in the world.
Established in 2014, with a live performance tribute to Buddy Rich, The BBB plays monthly at jazz clubs in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Prior to forming his own jazz orchestra, Bernie backed Maynard Ferguson, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Bernie served 15 years for both Setzer and Goodwin. He has been the drummer on numerous Brian Setzer Grammy Award®-winning recordings and more recently on every recording that Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band has released, including the Grammy Award-winners.
Bernie Dresel's complete list of credits is extensive, but here are some of the notable ones:
Movies
…and many more.
Television
Bernie has also played on American Music Awards, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Emmy Awards, American Comedy Awards, Family TV Awards, Quincy Jones The First 50 Years, Christmas At Rockefeller Center, and many more. He also performed as the drummer for Jerry Lewis’s MDA Labor Day Telethons.
Books
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band Play-Along Series Drums Vol. 1&2
Videos
Bernie Loves to play:
Craviotto Drums
Sabian Cymbals
Remo Drumheads
Vic Firth Drumsticks & Mallets
Gon Bops Percussion
Drum Workshop Hardware
Discography
| Artists | Albums | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddy Mitchell | La Meme Tribu Volume 1+2 | Polydor | 2018 |
| Ken Wiley | Cuerno Exotica | Krug Park Music | 2018 |
| The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel | Bern Bern Bern | Dig-It Recordings | 2018 |
| Alphonso Johnson | Metaphors | Embamba Music Productions | 2017 |
| Donny Most | D Most: Mostly Swinging | 2017 | |
| Lyn Stanley | The Moonlight Sessions Volume One | A.T. Music | 2017 |
| Lyn Stanley | The Moonlight Sessions Volume Two | A.T. Music | 2017 |
| Thomas G. Leslie / UNLV Wind Orchestra | The Return | 2017 | |
| Gordon Goodwin's Little Phat Band | An Elusive Man | 2016 | |
| Maynard Ferguson | Complete High Voltage | Omnivore Records | 2016 |
| The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel | Live N' Bernin | Monster Music | 2016 |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Wrap This! | Music Of Content | 2015 |
| Various | We Love Disney | Verve Records | 2015 |
| Billy Vera | Big Band Jazz | 2014 | |
| Cecilia Noël | Havana Rocks | 2014 | |
| Freddie Ravel | If Music Could Speak | 2014 | |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Life In The Bubble | Telarc | 2014 |
| Laura Dickinson | One for My Baby (To Frank Sinatra With Love) | 2014 | |
| Mark Hart | The Backroom | PSB Records | 2014 |
| Carl Verheyen | Mustang Run | Cranktone Entertainment | 2013 |
| Lyn Stanley | Lost In Romance | A.T. Music | 2013 |
| Robbie Williams | Swings Both Ways | Island Records | 2013 |
| The Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine | It's About Time | 2013 | |
| Thomas G. Leslie / UNLV Wind Orchestra | Lost Vegas | 2013 | |
| Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | Rattle Them Bones | Savoy Jazz | 2012 |
| Rachel MacFarlane | Hayley Sings | 2012 | |
| Georgia Stitt | My Lifelong Love | 2011 | |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | That's How We Roll | Telarc | 2011 |
| Jason Robert Brown | The Trumpet of the Swan | P.S. Classics | 2011 |
| Michael Feinstein | Sinatra Project, Vol. II The Good Life | Concord Jazz | 2011 |
| Michael Feinstein | The Sinatra Project, Vol. 2: The Good Life | 2011 | |
| Susan Egan | The Secret Of Happiness | 2011 | |
| Colin Hay | Company Of Strangers | Lazy Eye Records | 2010 |
| David Campbell | On Broadway | Columbia | 2010 |
| Katharine McPhee | Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You | 2010 | |
| Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | How Big Can You Get? The Music Of Cab Calloway | Big Bad Records | 2009 |
| Cecilia Noël | A Gozar! | 2009 | |
| Eddy Mitchell | Grand Ecran | Polydor | 2009 |
| Brian Wilson And Van Dyke Parks | Orange Crate Art | Warner Bros. Records | 2008 |
| Clique Girlz | Incredible | 2008 | |
| Dave Siebels With Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Dave Siebels With Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Self-Released | 2008 |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Act Your Age | Immergent | 2008 |
| Robin McKelle | Modern Antique | Cheap Lullaby Records | 2008 |
| Sylvie Vartan | Nouvelle Vague | Mercury | 2008 |
| Brian Setzer And The Nashvillains | Red Hot & Live | Surfdog Records | 2007 |
| Eddy Mitchell | Jambalaya | Polydor | 2007 |
| Robben Ford | Truth | Concord Jazz | 2007 |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Wolfgang's Big Night Out | Surfdog Records | 2007 |
| The Simpsons | Testify | EMI | 2007 |
| Brian Setzer | 13 | Surfdog Records | 2006 |
| Brian Setzer vs. Hotei | Back Streets Of Tokyo | Virgin | 2006 |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Bah, Humduck! (A Looney Tunes Christmas) | Immergent | 2006 |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | The Phat Pack | Immergent | 2006 |
| LuLu LaFever | A Little Night Music | 2006 | |
| Michelle Tumes | Michelle Tumes | 2006 | |
| Robin McKelle | Introducing Robin McKelle | Cheap Lullaby Records | 2006 |
| The Carl Verheyen Band | Take One Step | AIX Records | 2006 |
| Tomoyasu Hotei | Soul Sessions - A Guitarist vs Intellectual Barbarians | Virgin | 2006 |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Dig That Crazy Christmas | Surfdog Records | 2005 |
| Alf Clausen Jazz Orchestra | Swing Can Really Hang You Up The Most | Sunny NoDak Records | 2005 |
| Brian Setzer | Rockabilly Riot! Volume One - A Tribute To Sun Records | Surfdog Records | 2005 |
| Carl Verheyen | Rumor Mill | 2005 | |
| Family Guy With Walter Murphy And His Orchestra | Live In Vegas | Geffen Records | 2005 |
| Star Academy 5 | Star Academy 5: Les Meilleurs Moments | 2005 | |
| Jimmy Sommers | A Holiday Wish | 2004 | |
| LeAnn Rimes | What A Wonderful World | Curb Records | 2004 |
| Star Academy 4 | Star Academy 4: Les Meilleurs Moments | 2004 | |
| Various | Wouldn't It Be Nice: A Jazz Portrait of Brian Wilson | 2004 | |
| Brian Setzer | Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy | Surfdog Records | 2003 |
| Cecilia Noel And The Wild Clams | Bongoland | Wild Clam Records | 2003 |
| Eddy Mitchell | Frenchy Cristal | 2003 | |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | XXL | Silverline | 2003 |
| Linda Eder | Storybook | 2003 | |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Jump, Jive an' Wail: The Best of the Brian Setzer Orchestra 1994-2000 | 2003 | |
| Wendy Maharry | Released | 2003 | |
| Gloria Loring | Friends & Lovers | 2002 | |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Boogie Woogie Christmas | Surfdog Records | 2002 |
| Various | Drum Workshop 30th Anniversary Collection | Drum Workshop Inc. | 2002 |
| Larry Nozero | Warm | 2001 | |
| Marek Niedzwiecki | Smooth Jazz Cafe 3 | Mercury | 2001 |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Jumpin' East of Java: Live In Japan | 2001 | |
| Brian Setzer '68 Comeback Special | Ignition! | Surfdog Records | 2001 |
| Various | Good Rockin' Tonight - The Legacy Of Sun Records | Sire | 2001 |
| Colombe | A Bientot | 2000 | |
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Swingin' For The Fences | Silverline | 2000 |
| Jazz at the Movies Band | Jazz At The Movies: The Bedroom Mixes | Discovery Records | 2000 |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Vavoom! | 2000 | |
| Tony Galla | A.S.A.P. | Provogue | 2000 |
| Various | Smooth Jazz Number Ones | 2000 | |
| Andy Summers | Green Chimneys: The Music Of Thelonious Monk | BMG Classics | 1999 |
| Arthur Hanlon | Encuentros | 1999 | |
| Linda Eder Frank Wildhorn Jack Murphy | The Civil War: The Complete Work | 1999 | |
| Dennis Bono | Forget To Remember | 1998 | |
| Keiko Matsui | Full Moon And The Shine | Countdown Records | 1998 |
| Michael Grange | Music You Can't Refuse | 1998 | |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | The Dirty Boogie | Interscope Records | 1998 |
| Van Dyke Parks | Moonlighting: Live At The Ash Grove | Warner Bros. Records | 1998 |
| Various | Unwind: A Jazz Compilation | 1998 | |
| Andy Summers | The Last Dance Of Mr. X | BMG Classics | 1997 |
| Jazz At The Movies Band | Sax On Broadway | Discovery Records | 1997 |
| Jeff Campbell | Long Road From Home | 1997 | |
| Linda Eder | It's Time | Atlantic | 1997 |
| Mark Portmann | No Truer Words | 1997 | |
| Steve Bach | Now & Then | 1997 | |
| Gerry Mulligan | Legacy | 1996 | |
| GRP | GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. 2 | 1996 | |
| José Feliciano | Americano | 1996 | |
| Keiko Matsui | Dream Walk | Countdown Records | 1996 |
| Patty Cabrera | Always & Forever | 1996 | |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Guitar Slinger | Interscope Records | 1996 |
| Various | Swing Alive! At The Hollywood Palladium | 1996 | |
| Various | The Songs Of West Side Story | RCA Victor | 1996 |
| Freddie Ravel | Sol To Soul | 1995 | |
| Jazz At The Movies Band | It's A Wonderful Life: Sax At The Movies For Christmas | Discovery Records | 1995 |
| Jazz at the Movies Band | One From The Heart, Sax At The Movies II | Discovery Records | 1995 |
| Kalani | Insights | 1995 | |
| Kazu Matsui | Wind | 1995 | |
| Reiner Schöne | Gnadenlos Verliebt | Koch International | 1995 |
| Bob Mamet | Signs Of Life | 1994 | |
| Gloria Loring | Is There Anybody Out There | USA Music Group | 1994 |
| Gregg Karukas | Key Witness | 101 South Records | 1994 |
| Gregg Karukas | Sound Of Emotion | 101 South Records | 1994 |
| Jazz At The Movies Band | Reel Romance | Discovery Records | 1994 |
| Jazz at the Movies Band | White Heat: Film Noir | Discovery Records | 1994 |
| Kalani | Pangea | 1994 | |
| Kazu Matsui Featuring David Lindley | Wheels Of The Sun | Herman's | 1994 |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Hollywood Records | 1994 |
| Bill Cunliffe | A Paul Simon Songbook | 1993 | |
| Jazz at the Movies Band | Body Heat | Discovery Records | 1993 |
| Keiko Matsui | A Drop Of Water | White Cat Records | 1993 |
| Porcupine | Look, But Don't Touch | Unity Label Group | 1993 |
| Sharon | Candles, Snow & Mistletoe | 1993 | |
| Various | Put On Your Green Shoes | 1993 | |
| Keiko Matsui | Cherry Blossom | White Cat Records | 1992 |
| Steve Bach | City Magic | 1992 | |
| Carl Anderson | Pieces Of A Heart | 1991 | |
| David Byrne | The Forest | Warner Bros. Records | 1991 |
| Keiko Matsui | Night Waltz | 1991 | |
| Brad Dutz | Brad Dutz | 1990 | |
| Steve Bach | Nice Moves | 1990 | |
| Kahoru Kohiruimaki | Time The Motion | TDK Records | 1989 |
| Matt Harris | Hit And Run | Voss Records | 1989 |
| Porcupine | Porcupine | 1989 | |
| Steve Bach | More Than A Dream | Soundwings | 1988 |
| Bout Time | Bout Time | Mark Records | 1983 |
| The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Live: Christmas Extravaganza |