In Memoriam

Elvin Jones
by Rick Mattingly

Legendary jazz drummer Elvin Jones died on Tuesday, May 18 at age 76. Recognized as one of the most influential drummers in the history of jazz, Jones developed an original approach in which every part of the drumset contributed to the forward momentum of the music. Through his use of multiple layers of rhythm, Jones paved the way for a modern style of jazz drumming that flowed more freely.

Jones admits that being a rhythmic pioneer wasn’t always easy. Early in his career, many musicians considered him difficult to play with. But Jones says he knew he was doing the right thing. “I knew my style sounded complicated, but it wasn’t really,”Jones said in a 1982 Modern Drummer interview. “It wasn’t status quo, but it wasn’t all THAT different.

“This way of playing adds more responsibility to the drummer,”Jones said. “One of the responsibilities involves being flexible enough to support the soloist within the full range of support. You aren’t just following the soloist; you become a partner. When approached properly, this way of playing offers greater opportunities and broadens the musical scope of the player.”

Born September 9, 1927, in Pontiac, Michigan, Elvin Ray Jones was the younger brother of jazz pianist Hank Jones and the late trumpet player and bandleader Thad Jones. During his teenage years, Jones began gigging around Pontiac, sometimes with his brothers, using borrowed drums. At age 18 he joined the Army and spent the next three years playing in a military band.
After being discharged from the Army, Elvin returned to Michigan, acquired his first drumset, and began gigging in Detroit. He quickly developed a good reputation and landed a gig in the house band at the Bluebird Club, which was led by Billy Mitchell. There, Elvin had the chance to back such musicians as Wardell Grey, Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers and Carmen McRae when they appeared in town. During 1955 Elvin toured with bassist Charles Mingus and pianist Bud Powell.

Elvin moved to New York City in 1956 and was soon gigging and recording with a variety of artists, including J. J. Johnson, Donald Byrd, Tyree Glenn, Harry “Sweets”Edison, Miles Davis, Paul Chambers, Pepper Adams, Sonny Rollins and Stan Getz.

Jones’style came to full fruition during his tenure with the John Coltrane Quartet, which began in 1960. Elvin and “Trane”were truly partners as they simultaneously explored rhythm and melody. Jones recorded extensively with Coltrane, and many consider the album A Love Supreme to be the definitive document of the group that included pianist McCoy Tyner and bassist Jimmy Garrison.

During his years with Coltrane, Elvin--who had once been considered difficult to play with--became an in-demand drummer who appeared on countless albums by such artists as Grant Green, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Young, Kenny Burrell and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Jones also recorded several albums under his own name during that period.

Coltrane gradually began to expand his group and added a second drummer, Rashied Ali, late in 1965. Elvin played alongside Ali briefly, but then left Coltrane’s group early in 1966. After leaving Coltrane, Elvin spent two weeks touring Europe with Duke Ellington’s orchestra. He then spent some time in Paris subbing for Kenny Clarke at the Blue Note club. When he returned to the States, Elvin started his own trio with saxophonist/flutist Joe Farrell and former Coltrane bassist Jimmy Garrison. The group’s debut album, Puttin’It Together on the Blue Note label, is regarded by many as one of Elvin’s finest recordings ever, and Elvin himself ranked it as one of his personal favorites.

Over the next few years, Jones’bands included such musicians as saxophonists Dave Liebman, Frank Foster and George Coleman, pianists Chick Corea and Jan Hammer, and bassist Gene Perla. He also participated in a well-publicized “drum battle”with Ginger Baker in London and appeared in the satirical western film Zachariah.

In the 1980s Elvin started calling his group The Jazz Machine, and over the next 20 years band members included saxophonists Pat La Barbera, Joshua Redman, Sonny Fortune and Ravi Coltrane, guitarist Jean Paul Bourelly, pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassists Reggie Workman, George Mraz and Andy McCloud, trumpeter Nicholas Payton and trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis. Elvin continued to be in-demand for recordings, and appeared on albums by Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, John Hicks, David Murray, Sonny Sharrock, John McLaughlin and Joe Lovano. One of his last recordings was with his brother Hank.

In 1991 Elvin was elected to the PAS Hall of Fame. In 1998, Jones was one of the inaugural recipients of the American Drummers Achievement Award presented by the Zildjian company.