The Adam Deitch Quartet

Biography

The Adam Deitch Quartet is a jazz‑funk group led by Grammy‑nominated drummer, composer, and producer Adam Deitch, known for his work with Lettuce and Break Science.[2][3][4] Formed in the mid‑2010s and released through Deitch’s own Golden Wolf Records label, the Quartet features a core lineup of Deitch on drums, Bay Area Hammond organ specialist Wil Blades on organ and clavinet, and Lettuce horn section mainstays Ryan Zoidis (saxophones) and Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet).[1][2][4] Originating from Deitch’s base in Denver and his long‑standing New York/Boston funk‑jazz circles, the band grew out of late‑night after‑parties following Lettuce shows, where the four musicians developed a tightly grooving small‑group concept steeped in mid‑’60s soul‑jazz, classic organ‑combo funk, and modern hip‑hop–inflected rhythm playing.[3][4]

The Quartet’s recorded output, including albums like Egyptian Secrets and Roll The Tape, showcases Deitch’s evolution from high‑demand sideman and producer to bandleader in a straight‑ahead instrumental setting, often cutting tracks in one or two takes with minimal post‑production.[1][2][9] Critics have emphasized that the group is far more than a stripped‑down version of Lettuce: its music is built around Blades’s percolating Hammond organ, tight horn voicings from Zoidis and Bloom, and Deitch’s deep, syncopated grooves, evoking mid‑’60s Blue Note organ groups while incorporating funk, hip‑hop, and modern jazz sensibilities.[1][4][9] Guest collaborations with artists like guitarist John Scofield, Deitch’s longtime mentor, further cement the Quartet’s place at the intersection of contemporary funk, groove‑oriented jazz, and jam‑scene improvisation, and position the band as a vehicle for Deitch’s compositional voice and legacy within modern jazz‑funk.[2][4][9]

Fun Facts

• The Adam Deitch Quartet began informally as a series of small after‑party gigs following Lettuce shows on the U.S. West Coast, before evolving into a full recording and touring project.[4]
• Adam Deitch releases the Quartet’s music on his own imprint, Golden Wolf Records, which he founded in 2014 specifically to support his solo and Quartet projects.[2]
• Many tracks by The Adam Deitch Quartet, including those on Egyptian Secrets, were recorded in just one or two takes with almost no effects or post‑production, emphasizing live ensemble interaction.[9]
• Although two of the Quartet’s members (Ryan Zoidis and Eric “Benny” Bloom) are best known for large‑ensemble funk with Lettuce, critics have stressed that the Adam Deitch Quartet is not simply a stripped‑down Lettuce but a distinct organ‑combo jazz‑funk group with its own sound.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• John Scofield - Senior jazz guitarist and bandleader who hired Adam Deitch for the Uberjam band and later appeared as a guest on The Adam Deitch Quartet recordings, serving as a major stylistic and professional mentor. (John Scofield albums Überjam and Überjam Deux (with Deitch on drums); guest appearances on The Adam Deitch Quartet tracks mentioned in press around the Quartet’s debut album.) [Early 2000s onward[2][3][4][5]]

Key Collaborators

• Wil Blades - Hammond organ and clavinet player; core member and keyboardist of The Adam Deitch Quartet. (Adam Deitch Quartet releases on Golden Wolf Records, including Roll The Tape and other Quartet sessions where he is credited on organ and clavinet.) [Mid‑2010s–present[1][2][4]]
• Ryan Zoidis - Saxophonist; member of Lettuce horn section and key horn voice in The Adam Deitch Quartet. (Lettuce recordings such as Elevate; Adam Deitch Quartet recordings like Roll The Tape and other Golden Wolf releases.) [2000s–present[1][2][4]]
• Eric “Benny” Bloom - Trumpeter; member of Lettuce horn section and core horn player in The Adam Deitch Quartet. (Lettuce albums including Elevate; Adam Deitch Quartet releases on Golden Wolf Records.) [2010s–present[1][2][4]]
• John Scofield - Guest guitarist with The Adam Deitch Quartet and longtime collaborator with Adam Deitch outside the Quartet. (Guest spots on the Adam Deitch Quartet’s debut album (three tracks noted in Modern Drummer feature); Scofield albums Überjam and Überjam Deux with Deitch on drums.) [Early 2000s–present[2][4][5][9]]
• Lettuce - Funk band led in large part by Adam Deitch, sharing personnel (Zoidis and Bloom) and groove‑oriented aesthetic with The Adam Deitch Quartet. (Albums such as Elevate, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.) [1990s–present[2][3]]

Artists Influenced

• Younger funk and jam‑scene drummers (general category) - Deitch’s high‑profile work with Lettuce, Break Science, Pretty Lights, and The Adam Deitch Quartet, as well as his educational platform Deitch Academy, has made him a reference point for modern funk, hip‑hop, and jazz drumming; while individual protégés are not named in sources, his influence on emerging drummers is widely noted in press and endorsements. (Lettuce’s Elevate; Adam Deitch Quartet albums on Golden Wolf Records; educational content on Deitch Academy.) [2010s–present[2][3][7][8]]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Mushroom Gravy (Roll The Tape)
2. Lay It Back (Roll The Tape)
3. Roll The Tape (Roll The Tape)
4. Play on Playa (Roll The Tape)
5. The Way You Make Me Feel (Egyptian Secrets)
6. The Green Light (Roll The Tape)
7. Alone Together (Roll The Tape)
8. Have Faith (Roll The Tape)
9. Egyptian Secrets (Egyptian Secrets)
10. Fear of the Blades (Egyptian Secrets)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia