At a jazz gig in Donnybrook, Dublin in 1952, a 16 year-old boy sat in behind the drum kit, as a guest and within 16 bars changed the face of percussion in Ireland forever. For over forty years, John Wadham played in every Irish jazz group of distinction, and was constantly in demand as a session musician.

Collaborators included Brian Dunning, Rock Fox, Dave Fleming, Jim Doherty, Peter O Brien, Noel Kelehan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael and Richie Buckley, Mike Neilsen, Honor Hefernan, Spike Robinson, Barney Kessel, Zoot Soma and Georgie Fame, to name but a few.

George Hodnett described Wadham’s playing as having ‘the precision of a chronometer and the vitality of a saturation bombing. Johnny was also a broadcaster on RTE with an unparalleled collection of jazz on vinyl.

Arguably, John’s greatest legacy, however, was his teaching. Over a period of decades, he taught hundreds of aspiring drummers from his home in Dalkey to the extent that by the 1980s and 90s it was difficult to point to a successful drummer in Dublin who hadn’t been taught by John or by someone who had. He taught every genre of kit drumming and his former students can be seen behind kits, congas, timbales and bodhrans with everyone from jazz bands to U2, Kíla and the Chieftains.

20 years on from his untimely passing, this is a small musical tribute to ‘The Wad’ from those who were lucky enough to know him.

At a jazz gig in Donnybrook, Dublin in 1952, a 16 year-old boy sat in behind the drum kit, as a guest and within 16 bars changed the face of percussion in Ireland forever. For over forty years, John Wadham played in every Irish jazz group of distinction, and was constantly in demand as a session musician. Collaborators included Louis Stewart, Brian Dunning, Rock Fox, Dave Fleming, Jim Doherty, Peter O Brien, Noel Kelehan, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael and Richie Buckley, Mike Nielsen, Honor Heffernan, Spike Robinson, Barney Kessel, Zoot Sims and Georgie Fame, to name but a few.

George Hodnett described Wadham’s playing as having ‘the precision of a chronometer and the vitality of a saturation bombing’. John was also a broadcaster on RTE with an unparalleled collection of jazz on vinyl. Arguably, John’s greatest legacy, however, was his teaching. Over a period of decades, he taught hundreds of aspiring drummers from his home in Dalkey, to the extent that by the 1980s and 90s it was difficult to point to a successful drummer in Dublin who hadn’t been taught by John or by someone who had. He taught every genre of kit drumming and his former students can be seen behind kits, congas, timbales and bodhrans with everyone from jazz bands to U2, Kíla and the Chieftains. 20 years on from his untimely passing, this is a small musical tribute to ‘The Wad’ from those who were lucky enough to know him.

A 20 year anniversary concert for the late great John Wadham, featuring The Jim Doherty Trio with vocalist Honor Heffernan, and very special guests, including Keith Donald, Richie Buckley and percussionist Monette Marino Keita (USA)

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