Elvin Jones biography

 

Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was a jazz drummer. He was born in Pontiac, Michigan, the youngest child in a family of ten. His father worked for General Motors. Two of Jones' brothers were also jazz musicians: Hank (piano), and Thad (trumpet/flugelhorn).

Elvin Jones began playing professionally in the 1940s, working with the Army Special Services program, Operation Happiness, and in 1949 had a short-lived gig in Detroit's Grand River Street club. Eventually he went on to play with artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Wardell Grey. In 1955, after a failed audition for the Benny Goodman band, he found work in New York, joining Charles Mingus's band, and releasing a record called J is for Jazz.

In 1960, Elvin Jones joined with the classic John Coltrane Quartet, which also included bassist Jimmy Garrison and pianist McCoy Tyner, and stayed with Coltrane until 1966. Elvin Jones was not entirely comfortable with the direction Coltrane was moving in and his polyrhythmic style clashed with the "multidirectional" approach of the group's second drummer, Rashied Ali.

Elvin Jones and Coltrane often played extended duet passages, both giving and taking energy through their instruments. This band is widely considered to have redefined "swing" (the rhythmic feel of jazz) in much the same way that Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker et al did during earlier stages of jazz's development.

After leaving the Coltrane group, Elvin Jones played with Duke Ellington, and eventually formed his own touring group. Jazz Machine, normally a quintet, continued in the same musical direction. His sense of timing, polyrhythms, dynamics, timbre, and legato phrasing - as well as the sheer mass of sound he produced - brought the drumset to the fore. Jones was touted by Life Magazine as "the world's greatest rhythmic drummer", and his free-flowing style was a major influence on many leading rock drummers, including Mitch Mitchell (whom Jimi Hendrix called "my Elvin Jones") and Ginger Baker.

Elvin Jones, who taught regularly, often took part in clinics, played in schools, and gave free concerts in prisons. His lessons emphasized music history as well as drumming technique. Elvin Jones died of heart failure in Englewood, New Jersey on May 18, 2004. Elvin Jones is survived by his first wife, Shirley Jones and his second, albeit common-law wife, Keiko Jones (Elvin Jones married Keiko before divorcing Shirley, meaning that legally he and Keiko were not married). Elvin Jones is also survived by sons, Alvin Queen of Switzerland and Elvin Nathan Jones of California; and daughter Rose-Marie Fromm of Sweden.

ELVIN JONES - BIOGRAPHY
Elvin Ray Jones was born September 9, 1927 in Pontiac, Michigan, the youngest of. Elvin likes to cite range from Kenny Clarke, Max Roach and Jo Jones to.


YouTube - Elvin Jones Drum Solo
This is a clip of one of the best drummers ever: A Mister Elvin Jones. Elvin Jones Quintet - A Love Supreme Concert - part1. 07:17. From: PedroMendesDjembe.


Elvin Jones 1927-2004: A True Moment In Time
All About Jazz - The Definitive Resource for Jazz Music. Elvin Jones, one of the most influential and accomplished drummers in history.


Elvin Jones: Album Reviews, Biography - MOG
Find Elvin Jones album reviews and more information (including biography) on MOG. Be the first to write a post about "Elvin Jones"! Biography.


Elvin Jones on Rhapsody
Elvin Jones: Rhapsody has all the latest music by Elvin Jones, including popular. When Elvin Jones plays the drums, the world listens.


Rolling Stone : Elvin Jones
Rolling Stone gives you total Elvin Jones coverage including free music, videos, photos, music news and exclusive Rolling Stone articles.


PM Records ~ Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones. Drums. Jan Hammer. Acoustic and electric pianos and moog synthesizer. Gene Perla. Elvin Ray Jones, who succumbed to heart failure last May.


Drummerworld: Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was born September 9, 1927 in Pontiac, Michigan, the youngest of. Elvin likes to cite range from Kenny Clarke, Max Roach and Jo Jones to.


Drummerworld: Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones Signature Series. Maple Custom. A. 7 x 14 Marple. ProMark TXJZW Elvin Jones autograph model © Modern Drummer © Lee Tanner. Zildjian Add 2003.


Elvin Jones - Free Music Downloads, Videos, Lyrics, CDs, MP3s, Bio.
Elvin Jones feature on ARTISTdirect. Elvin Jones. albums. biography. listen/watch. links. Elvin Jones. Live in Japan 1978, Vol. 2. 10/28/2002.