16/06/2025
Frank Gibson Jr., the bandleader and drummer of Dr. Tree, sadly passed away a few weeks ago following a heart attack, after a courageous six-week battle in hospice. Frank was an unwavering force of support throughout the five-year project to reissue the long-lost Dr. Tree album. Work on the release began before the pandemic, and was fraught with obstacles—from navigating stringent lockdowns in New Zealand to unearth forgotten tapes, to Frank suffering a major stroke just as restrictions began to ease. Facing this debilitating attack with defiance, Frank’s passion for music was such that his primary concern was recapturing his bass drum timing – speech therapy came second!
A professional drummer from his teens, Frank’s prolific six-decade history can not be easily encapsulated. From leading award-winning albums with the likes of Milt Jackson, Mike Nock and guitarist John Scofield in his pre-Miles Davis years, to University posts teaching jazz history and the art of drumming. Gibson’s extraordinary adaptability enabled him to seamlessly transition across jazz, rock, pop, soul, funk, and latin genres, and embrace diverse collaborations with the likes of Joe Henderson, Nat Adderley, Frank Foster, Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Dusty Springfield, Sonny Stitt, the Temptations, Rick Wakeman, the Walker Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Ernie Watts and Jimmy Witherspoon.
I am deeply grateful to Frank for trusting me with the reissue of the Dr. Tree album, as well as the treasure trove of previously unreleased material from the band. It’s a privilege to have been part of bringing this incredible music to a new audience.
The Dr. Tree album is currently sitting at #5 on the New Zealand music charts, finally receiving the recognition it has long deserved.
A memorial concert in Frank’s honour is planned, featuring the remaining members of Dr. Tree.
