In 1983, he joined
Art Blakey's
Jazz Messengers as the group's second drummer. Chosen by Blakey himself to fill the drum chair, Peterson remained with Blakey until the jazz legend’s 1990 death. He dedicated a 1994 Ralph Peterson Quintet album,
Art, to the repertoire of his mentor. He worked with
Terence Blanchard and
Donald Harrison in 1984, and with
Walter Davis (1985, 1989),
Tom Harrell (1985),
Out of the Blue (1985–1988),
Branford Marsalis (1986),
David Murray,
Craig Harris (1987),
James Spaulding (1988),
Roy Hargrove (1989),
Jon Faddis (1989),
Dewey Redman,
Mark Helias (1989), and
Wynton Marsalis (with the
Count Basie ghost band). During the 1990s, Peterson played as a sideman with
Jack Walrath,
Craig Handy,
Charles Lloyd,
Kip Hanrahan (1992),
Bheki Mseleku,
Courtney Pine,
Steve Coleman,
George Colligan,
Stanley Cowell,
Mark Shim, and
Betty Carter. He began recording as a leader in 1988, with a quintet (Terence Blanchard,
Steve Wilson,
Geri Allen, and
Phil Bowler) on
V and
Volition. He also worked with Allen and Bowler as a trio in "Triangular";
Essiet Essiet replaced Bowler for the 1988
Triangular recording. In 1989 he recorded in the quartet format as "The Fo'tet" with
Don Byron,
Steve Wilson (later Bobby Franchesini),
Melissa Slocum (later
Belden Bullock), and
Bryan Carrott. After living in Canada for some time, he returned to Philadelphia, where he worked again with "The Fo'tet,” and recorded as
Triangular 2 with Slocum and
Uri Caine. He also led the group "Hip Pocket,” with whom he played trumpet. On May 21, 2021, Peterson’s Onyx Productions released Raise Up Off Me, Peterson’s final full-length album. Comprising five Peterson originals and compositions by
Zaccai Curtis,
Bud Powell,
James Williams (musician),
Patrice Rushen, and
John Hicks, the album was hailed as Peterson’s “closing statement.” In the liner notes,
Orrin Evans tied Peterson’s music to his life: If you knew Ralph Peterson, you knew whenever he titled a song or album, it directly correlated to something going on in his life.
Art (1994, Blue Note) was Ralph’s tribute to his mentor, Art Blakey, who had just passed.
Reclamation Project (1995, Evidence) was his way of telling us he was reclaiming his life and career. “The Trials of Trust and Treachery” off of
Subliminal Seduction (2002, Criss Cross) was his homage to the difficulty but importance of long-term relationships.
While Raise Up Off Me can easily be associated with 2020, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and the pandemic, the message I hear is Ralph’s fight to LIVE! ==Technique==