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.

Kim recently completed his debut CD, a joint project with Lincoln Goines, and is now a signed recording artist with EFA Records in Europe and Shiosai Records in Japan. Kim recently returned from his debut tour as a leader in Japan, promoting the release of the Japanese version of his CD entitled “Night and Day”. 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 is Co-Chairman of the Faculty at The Collective. He has been teaching at the school since 1979. Kim is also an associate professor at S.U.N.Y. Purchase Music Conservatory and holds an Associate Professor position at Berklee School of Music. His instructional book “Advanced Concepts” is known as the bible of modern progressive drumming. 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 received the distinct honor of being a featured clinician at the International Percussive Arts Society Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

 

COURSES TAUGHT:

Advanced Performance Program

Elective Intensive Program Afro-Cuban/Fusion

Certificate Program B: Contemporary Afro-Cuban

 
Kim is available for Private lessons. Please call (212) 741-0091 for availability.