A powerful and relentless searcher for the union of spirit and body in his interpretations of rhythm and melody, Abbey Rader was raised in the Bronx and influenced by swing, bop, and free improv that were prevalent in his upbringing, and has in more recent years researched the handrumming of many cultures.

Mr. Rader lived in Europe in the late seventies and all through the eighties, where he performed with John Handy and Dr L. Subramaniam in quartet, as well as in trio with John and various bassists. Mr. Rader spent 5 years in the Gunter Hampel Big Band often including Jeanne Lee and Marion Brown as well as in the Hampel trio. Mr. Rader performed with Mal Waldron in quartet and trio, and had his own band the “Right Time”, which had Marc Levin, George Bishop, Leonard Jones, Marty Cook, Ken Simon and other guests. Mr. Rader was a clinician for Sonor drums in Europe for many years, and taught jazz drumset studies at four universities in Germany (Detmold Hochschule, TU Gottingen, TU Braunschweig, and Einbeck Musikhochschule).