Gene Lake

Gene Lake was born in St. Louis, Missouri and was exposed very early to the Black Artist Group, “a seedbed for innovation” and a collective rally of black musicians, poets, dancers and artists from all disciplines led by his father Oliver Lake. This reflected in his constant desire to actively search for innovation and musically adventurous forms and techniques.

During more than ten years, he has been playing with a stunningly diverse range of artists: Joe Zawinul, Marcus Miller, Steve Coleman, Henry Threadgill, Me’shell NdegeOcello, D’Angelo, Cassandra Wilson, Jason Miles, diverse R&B and jazz/rap groups and the wildly original rock/funk/jazz fusion group Torsos.

Gene is an all around drummer who embodies the contradictions of modern music.
His album “Here And Now” (2010) takes the listener on a musical journey, traveling from hard funk to jazz fusion via R&B songs. It features an eclectic mix of pop vocals, virtuoso drumming and instrumental ballads and diverse musicians ranging from jazz legend David Sanborn on saxophone to harmonica player Gregoire Maret and two Screaming Headless Torsos musicians: pop vocalist Freedom Bremner and jazz/rock guitarist David Fuiczynski.

In 2022, Gene will release his new album "The Kingdom Within".

Gene Lake plans in the future to spend more time writing and establishing himself not only as a brilliant sideman but as a true leader deeply grounded in the basics of great funk music. Europe will be a key target in his new musical ventures.