Drummer Cindy Blackman may be best known for playing drums with rock star Lenny Kravitz yet she has an impressive track record as a jazz player and has a sizeable back catalogue of jazz albums which show her skill and taste in detail. Uniquely she has retained her credibility as a jazz player even when playing rock. This month she continues her jazz work with a tribute album to the great Tony Williams on her album Another Lifetime. Here she talks candidly to Andy Robson about the project, settling a few scores along the way and spelling out just what it means to have to fight to establish a career in jazz

Let’s talk drummers: “For Billy Cobham to diss Tony (Williams) is not only a travesty, it’s not only ignorant but it’s also stupid. Without Lifetime Billy Cobham wouldn’t have had a Mahavishnu Orchestra to go to!” Cindy Blackman is a woman of deep conviction, a drummer of profound ability and, strikingly, a spokesperson of power and passion for the music that energises her life: jazz.

And mess with her at your own risk as she’s still sore about Cobham comments in a Jazz Times article back in November 2008. “I’m not designed to back down. It’s not in my DNA. He not only criticised me and Tony Williams but he also criticised Gretsch drums. Now I don’t care what he says about me, I’m taking myself out of the picture. But Gretsch drums was the sound jazz was built upon.”

This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #143 – to read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE copy of Denys Baptiste's 'Let Freedom Ring!'.