Graphic Artist Chris Drukker: From Fortune 500 Exec To Super-Volunteer

“I see work that needs to be done, and I just do it,” said Montclair's native son, Christopher Drukker.

If you go to jazz-based community events, Drukker is most probably there, volunteering as stage manager, sound engineer and -- whatever needs to be done. He’s behind the scenes at First Night, the ever- popular WBGOJazz Radio FM 88.3 jazz radio’s  and each Tuesday night at the free Whole Foods jazz series in West Orange.

In addition, for the past nine Septembers, he has put in back-to-back 18 hour days for the Oscar Schindler Performing Arts Center Jazz Festival.  Besides being their regular season stage manager, he does their design work and marketing.

More about Drukker and design in a moment.

Drukker works extensively for Jazz House Kids with Executive Director Melissa Walker. “My real reward is seeing the kids coming in at one point and then seeing them leave at another,” Drukker said. “It’s a big kick.”

A closet drummer who started playing trumpet at age 4, Drukker has also been photographing and archiving performances for close to 35 years.  “I’ve about 18,000 meticulously collected and catalogued recordings,” he said.  Last November, he presented a program about his collection and experiences at the Montclair Public Library.

“If I have the time and see the need, I do it,” Drukker said. What that musician he’s helping with equipment or getting a water bottle for often doesn’t know is that the self-made Drukker worked in graphics arts at AT&T almost right out of Montclair High School.  He was the art director for Dow Jones by age 30. 

There’s more:

 As a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer, Drukker has worked extensively in the entertainment world.  He is closing in on 400 recording design projects for labels such as Sunnyside, working with artists like Herb Alpert (his childhood hero) and Lee Konitz, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong, Jeff Watts, Steve Lacy, Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Dave Samuels and Paquito D'Rivera.

Simply put, his catalogue is stunning.

Drukker turns 49 soon and we caught up for a pre-birthday chat about his many worlds.

Q. First, what can you tell us about your start in art?

A. I was kind of a child art prodigy—color, perspective, shadow, light—I love light.  It’s critical to my photography—composition—it came to me, just boom, it happened that fast. I never went to college, though I felt insecure about that, I went almost directly from high school to corporate design work.

The corporate world is tough; there is no praise and a lot of jealousy and backstabbing. The praise is in their giving you a position; mostly you hear how bad you are.

Q. Chris, your personality defies that of the corporate profile. How did you rise so far and so fast?

A. I had wonderful mentors.  Maybe I was too stubborn or stupid, but I cared about the work too much to let the jealousy get in the way. I gave 100%, sought out those who would get the job done, and did whatever needed to make the project the best it can be.

It’s the same way with my volunteer work. I knew I would go into the arts full time at some point. I am working harder than ever before, but I love this work. The corporate world offers prestige and material rewards—now I can really empathize with the problems of freelance musicians—but here the values are other things.”

Q. I am struck by the variety of your design. Still, what are some of the hallmarks of your work, what can you say about the projects shown here in the picture gallery?

A. Whether it’s a photograph I’ve taken, or one by someone else, I don’t let the design get in the way of the photograph. I love simplicity, space. The musical analogy would be how Miles (Davis) plays—space-- but some projects have to be more complex. I also like my design to be oblique, not too literal, to make you pause and think a second.

For each project, you have to wipe the slate clean and think about how to communicate the idea of that project. Jerry Gonzalez was both elusive and energetic. I photographed Jerry in the offices of Sunnyside, with the sun reflecting off a table on the bell of his trumpet. We knew we had a front cover image; simple design was the best choice on the project.

Carlos Franzetti is a great composer and orchestrator. I shot the image in Time Square. I tried for the feeling and energy of movement, using black and white photo effects.

Pianist Fred Hersch approached me with the idea of using antique images for this project. We used my photo and illustration abilities to produce his idea. With saxophonist and composer Donny McCaslin there was very limited time to produce and photograph this project. We shot in the hallway of the record company. I used close-up to get the drama.

Q. A closing thought?

A. I don’t need to be in the spotlight. These days, I get rewarded 10 times over by working with musicians and people I respect.

Happy Birthday, Chris.

Christopher Drukker Art Direction, Design and Illustration is in town. E-mail: drukk9@aol.com.  Drukker has also donated his design work to such community projects as “Bike and Walk Montclair.”