Widely held as one of New Zealand’s greatest drummers, as well as a pioneer among this country’s jazz scene, Frank Gibson Jr sadly passed away on 21 May 2025, at the age of 79. For a decade over the early 2000s Frank generously provided NZ Musician readers with a regular drumming column he titled Drumming Details.

The Daily Mail Australia reported that close friend Leo Sayer led the international tributes to Frank Gibson Jr, also noting his drumming behind Dusty Springfield and The Temptations in the headline. Elsewhere it was his work with Glen Campbell and Dionne Warwick that has been noted, while here in Aotearoa it was the seminal jazz fusion performances with his 1970s progressive jazz rock band Dr Tree that’s most widely referenced, along with early 1980s jazz funk fusion band Space Case, which included fellow Kiwi music legends Brian Smith, Kim Paterson, Murray McNabb, Andy Brown and Bruce Lynch. He was a three-time winner of the New Zealand Best Jazz Album awards and in 1983 he was inducted into the Zildjian hall of fame.

All of which points to the highest quality and matching versatility of his drumming that gave Frank Gibson Jr an international reputation of reliable excellence, and led to him featuring on more than 250 albums and as many radio programmes throughout the UK, USA and Australasia over more than six decades of active performing.

Frank will also be remembered by many as an educator, including a five-year stint as full-time lecturer in jazz music at the Edith Cowan University in Western Australia from 1992 onwards. He added a University of Otago Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree to his resume in 2017. 
RIP Frank Gibson Jr.