Name: Nikki Glaspie
Associations: The Nth Power, Chaka Kahn, Jay Z, Kanye West, George Michael
Instrument: Drums
Brands: Yamaha, Zildjian, Vater, Remo
Musician’s Biography:
Nikki Glaspie is one of the best drummers and musicians in the world today. Both with her band The Nth Power and when she is out drumming for musicians like Beyonce and Maceo Parker, Nikki makes a statement with her playing as she impresses with her finesse and chops with an amazing sense of time and pocket.
Nikki came up playing music at a young age in her church, singing, playing keyboards and ultimately playing the drums. Growing up she was introduced to a wide range of music from The Gap Band to Rage Against The Machine.
Glaspie expanded her playing when she attended Berklee College Of Music and recieved instruction and guidance from drummers including Dennis Chambers, Kenwood Dennard, and Angelamia Bachemin. Cutting her teeth as a drummer in the Boston music scene that surround Berklee put Nikki in a position to take her studies of drummers like Dennis Chambers, Horacio Hernandez, Dobbie Powell, Dave Grohl, J Dilla and apply them to developing her career.
Fresh out of college Glaspie teamed up with Sam Kininger, then saxophonist of Lettuce and Soulive, and started making a name for herself on the touring circuit and came into her first endorsement with Zildjian cymbals. From there Nikki Glaspie went on to tour with Martin Luther, which led her to an audition for Beyonce Knowles. With Nikki’s ability and charm, she became a member of Beyonce’s all female touring ensemble, SUGA MAMA.
This experience led Nikki to be featured along with her fellow SUGA MAMA drummer Kim Thompson on the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine.
From there Nikki Glaspie was welcomed into the Neville Brothers family and began to hold down the drums for Dumpstaphunk and The Neville Brothers, where she continued to develop her skills.
Now Glaspie’s focus is on her own band The Nth Power, where Nikki’s gospel, r&b, hip hop, funk infused style is on full display. You can also occasionally catch Nikki Glaspie with the house band on Late Night with Seth Myers.
Nikki Glaspie’s Drums:
Yamaha
Cymbals: Zildjian
- 18” A Custom EFX
- 17” K Custom Hybrid Crash
- 14” K Custom Session Hi Hats
- 10” A Custom Splash
Sticks:
Vater Drum Sticks
Heads:
Remo Drum Heads
Hardware:
Yamaha
Nikki Glaspie has performed and collaborated with:
- Chaka Kahn
- Jay-Z
- Kanye West
- Destiny’s Child
- George Michael
- Jennifer Hartswick
- Andre Ward
- State Radio
- Cee-Lo Greene
- Pharoah Monch
- Me’Shell N’dege Ocello
- Vernon Reid
- Brenda Russell
- Greg Phillinganes
- Snarky Puppy
- Soulive
- Karl Denson
- G Love & the Special Sauce
- Melvin Sparks
- Russell Baptiste
- The North Mississippi All Stars
- Big Sam’s Funky Nation
- George Porter Jr.
- Eric Krasno
- Chris Bullock
