Farewell to a gentle giant...

Dear Friends,
It's with a heavy heart and deep sadness that I inform you all that our beloved friend Elvin Jones passed away Tuesday, May 18th at 2:46 p.m. eastern time in New York. He was 76 years young. Please take a moment to pause and remember this very special person.

Sincerely,

John P. DeChristopher
Director of Artist Relations &
Event Marketing Worldwide
Avedis Zildjian Company

 

Was Elvin a drummer?

 

Mike...Mike....Mike. Come on now, "Was Elvin a drummer?" Not only was Elvin a drummer, he was THE drummer! Elvin Jones was John Coltrane's drummer during the most fertile period of his career (1960-1966). Elvin was known as a drummer's drummer who played with more fire and intensity than just about any drummer who ever lived (he's right up there with Buddy Rich). Check out any of Coltrane's stuff from this period and you'll understand that the world has lost a great legend.

BTW, I'm a drummer, so I'm biased.

 

Please excuse my ignorance...I am/was a trumpet player, and meant no disrespect to Sir Elvin. In fact, the only reason I had a clue he was a drummer was the Ziljdian reference in the post. I did play drums (albeit as a hobyy) in high school as well...

3

 

As a trumpet player, losing Elvin is akin to losing Miles. It's hell getting old...

 

Damn it's sad. Today we lose a legend.

3

 

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_JONES?SITE=APWEB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
May 19, 8:00 AM EDT

Jazz Drummer Elvin Ray Jones Dies at 76

NEW YORK (AP) -- Elvin Ray Jones, a renowned jazz drummer and member of John Coltrane's quartet who also played alongside Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, died Tuesday. He was 76. Jones died of heart failure in an Englewood, N.J., hospital, said his wife of 38 years, Keiko Jones.

"He's happy. No more suffering," said Keiko Jones. "He's been fighting for so long."

Jones, called by Life magazine "the world's greatest rhythmic drummer," was born in Pontiac, Mich., one of ten children. He had two musician brothers: Hank, a jazz pianist, and Thad, a trumpet and flugelhorn player.

Jones entered the Detroit jazz scene in the late 1940s after touring as a stagehand with the Army Special Services show Operation Happiness.

After a brief gig at the Detroit club Grand River Street, he went to work at another club, backing up such jazz greats as Parker, Davis and Wardell Grey.

Jones came to New York in 1955 for an unsuccessful audition for the Benny Goodman band but stayed in the city, joining Charlie Mingus' band and making a record called "J is Jazz." In 1960, he became a member of John Coltrane's quartet.

Jones, with his rhythmic, innovative style, became one of jazz's most famous drummers under Coltrane. He can be heard on Coltrane's "A love Supreme" and "Coltrane Live at the Village Vanguard."

After leaving the Coltrane quartet, Jones briefly played with Duke Ellington and formed the Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine. He put out several solo albums and continued to tour, including last month in Oakland, Calif., Keiko Jones said.

Besides his wife, Jones is survived by a son and a daughter.

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

I agree that Miles is da bomb, but Maynard Ferguson is my hero...

 

Obviously, he had quite an effect on you

 

Elvin was one of the drummers. I dug what he did with Mingus as well.