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Elvin Jones
September 9, 1927 - May 18, 2004
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Elvin Jones Drummerworld
Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones is one of the most important drummers in history of Modern Jazz.

Elvin Jones will always be best-known for his association with the classic John Coltrane Quartet (1960-1965) but he also had a notable career as a bandleader and continued to be a major influence in music.

One of the all-time great drummers (bridging the gap between advanced hard bop and the avant-garde), Jones is the younger brother of a remarkable musical family that also includes Hank and Thad Jones.

After spending time in the Army (1946-1949), he was a part of the very fertile Detroit jazz scene of the early '50s. He moved to New York in 1955, worked with Teddy Charles and the Bud Powell Trio, and recorded with Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins (the latter at his famous Village Vanguard session). After stints with J.J. Johnson (1956-1957), Donald Byrd (1958), Tyree Glenn, and Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jones became an important member of John Coltrane's Quartet, pushing the innovative saxophonist to remarkable heights and appearing on most of his best recordings. When Coltrane added Rashied Ali to his band in late 1965 as second drummer, Jones was reportedly not pleased and soon departed.

He went on a European tour with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and then started leading his own groups, which in the '90s became known as Elvin Jones' Jazz Machine. He remained active well into the 2000s and continued to push himself musically with the Jazz Machine, inviting young lions into the fold and touring regularly. Among his sidemen were saxophonists Frank Foster, Joe Farrell, George Coleman, Pepper Adams, Dave Liebman, Pat LaBarbera, Steve Grossman, Andrew White, Ravi Coltrane, and Sonny Fortune, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, pianists Dollar Brand and Willie Pickens, keyboardist Jan Hammer, and bassists Richard Davis, Jimmy Garrison, Wilbur Little, and Gene Perla among others.

Jones recorded as a leader for many labels including Atlantic, Riverside, Impulse, Blue Note, Enja, PM, Vanguard, Honey Dew, Denon, Storyville, Evidence, and Landmark.

His dedication to and love of the drums were such that even in the face of health problems he continued to mount the drum stand, occasionally accompanied by an oxygen tank. On May 18, 2004, drum legend Elvin Jones suffered heart failure and passed away.




Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video

Elvin Jones Drummerworld
Elvin Jones
Joe Farrel - Jimmy Garrison
VILLAGE GREENE
Denmark TV -  1968



Elvin Jones
Jazz Machine:

Rocking My Jazz Boat



Elvin Jones
Jazz Machine:

Drum Solo

Elvin Jones
Jazz Machine:

Mallets Drum Solo



Elvin Jones
Jazz Machine:

Brush Drum Solo


Elvin Jones Drummerworld
Elvin Jones
& The Jazz Machine
Mallets Drum Solo & more...
(29 Minutes) - 2000

Elvin Jones Drummerworld
Elvin Jones - John Coltrane
My Favorite Things
Germany 1961



Elvin Jones - John Coltrane
Vigil - Naima
Belgium 1965



The Drum Solo



Elvin Jones
...from the Movie Zachariah 1971

Louie Bellson Drummerworld
Elvin Jones
Brush Drum Solo
1991

Louie Bellson Drummerworld
Louie Bellson - Elvin Jones
Drum Duet
1991

Louie Bellson Drummerworld
Elvin Jones
Jazz Machine
Lugano
1991

Louie Bellson Drummerworld
Elvin Jones
Jazz Machine
Drum Solo
1991


Elvin Jones
Georges Gruntz Big Band
Jazzfest 1994
PART I
Berlin - Germany



Elvin Jones
Georges Gruntz Big Band
Jazzfest 1994
PART II
Berlin - Germany



Elvin Jones
Art Blakey - Sunny Murray
1968


Elvin Jones
Ravi Coltrane
Jazz Festival Vienna - 1991



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Elvin Jones - Joe Farrel - Jimmy Garrison
VILLAGE DREAMS
from Omkring Midnat Denmark TV - 1968


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld




Elvin Jones Drummerworld


Drummerworld Video
ELVIN JONES
Drum Solo - 1978


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld





Elvin Jones Drummerworld © Brian Ritter



Elvin Jones Drummerworld Elvin in Paris 1982



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John Coltrane - Elvin Jones - McCoy Tyner - Jimmy Garrison
"Blue Waltz"
Antibes - France - 1965


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



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Elvin Jones JAZZ MACHINE - Ravi Coltrane - Willie Pickins - Sonny Fortune - Chip Jackson
Drum Solo
Jazz Festival Lugano - 1991


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



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ELVIN JONES
Drum Solo from the Western Movie "Zachariah 1971


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



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Elvin Jones Jazz Machine:
Ravi Coltrane - tenor & soprano sax - Sonny Fortune - tenor sax, flute - Willie Pickens - piano - Brad Jones - bass
Rocking My Jazz Boat
Jazzfestival Bern - Switzerland - 1991
from the archives of Andy Luescher in Mexico


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Elvin Jones Jazz Machine:
Ravi Coltrane - tenor & soprano sax - Sonny Fortune - tenor sax, flute - Willie Pickens - piano - Brad Jones - bass
Drum Solo
Jazzfestival Bern - Switzerland - 1991
from the archives of Andy Luescher in Mexico


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld




Elvin Jones Drummerworld




Elvin Jones Jazz Machine:
Ravi Coltrane - tenor & soprano sax - Sonny Fortune - tenor sax, flute - Willie Pickens - piano - Brad Jones - bass
Ray-El and Drum Solo
Jazzfestival Bern - Switzerland - 1991
from the archives of Andy Luescher in Mexico






Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld


Elvin Jones Drummerworld

Elvin Jones Drummerworld






Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld Brothers: Hank and Elvin Jones



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld


Drummerworld Video
John Coltrane - Eric Dolphi - McCoy Tyner - Reggie Workman
My Favorite Things
Germany 1961


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Elvin Jones - George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band
Napoleon Blown Apart
Jazzfest 1994 - Berlin - Germany
Alexander Sipiagin, Jack Walrath, Lew Soloff, Tom Harrell (tp,flh), Steve Turre (tb), Earl McIntyre, Dave Bargeron (tb,euphonium), Art Baron (btb), Chris Hunter, Sal Giorgianni (as), Larry Schneider, Ellery Eskelin (ts), Howard Johnson (tu,bcl,bs), George Gruntz (p), Mike Richmond (b)






Buddy Rich at Drummerworld Elvin Jones - Buddy Rich



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld© Lee Tanner



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Elvin Jones JAZZ MACHINE - Ravi Coltrane - Willie Pickins - Sonny Fortune - Chip Jackson
Jazz Festival Lugano - 1991


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones DrummerworldRoy Haynes - Armand Zildjian - Elvin Jones - Louie Bellson - Max Roach



Elvin Jones DrummerworldElvin Jones - Philly Jo Jones - Max Roach



Elvin Jones Drummerworld


Drummerworld Video
Elvin Jones JAZZ MACHINE - Ravi Coltrane - Willie Pickins - Sonny Fortune - Chip Jackson
Jazz Festival Vienna - 1991


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Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones DrummerworldArt Blakey - Tony Williams - Elvin Jones



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld



Elvin Jones Drummerworld thanks for your visit!






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