R.I.P. Jack DeJohnette
Twenty four year old Jack DeJohnette with the Charles Lloyd Quartet, 1966, "East of the Sun." Charles Lloyd, tenor saxophone; Keith Jarrett, piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums.
Jack DeJohnette was important because he fused power, subtlety, and innovation across jazz’s most transformative eras.
He moved fluidly between straight-ahead swing, avant-garde abstraction, and electric fusion. He could anchor a groove or dissolve into texture. This made him indispensable from the 1960s through the 2020s.
• Miles Davis — Played on Bitches Brew (1969), helping redefine jazz with rock, funk, and open improvisation.
• Keith Jarrett Trio — Drummer for 30+ years in one of jazz’s longest-running groups, blending classical touch and rhythmic elasticity.
• Chicago avant-garde — Worked with Muhal Richard Abrams and AACM musicians, bridging inside/outside styles.
• New Directions, Special Edition, Gateway — His own groups pushed composition, free improv, and global rhythms.
DeJohnette was a colorist. His cymbal work, use of space, and dynamic control let him play melodically, not just rhythmically. He approached drums like a composer.
He expanded what jazz drumming could be: more than timekeeping, more than flash. Drummers like Brian Blade, Eric Harland, and Tyshawn Sorey carry his legacy.
He remained vital for over 60 years, adapting without imitating trends. His work crossed generations, always with integrity.
In short: DeJohnette didn’t just play behind great music—he shaped it.#jackdejohnette
Twenty four year old Jack DeJohnette with the Charles Lloyd Quartet, 1966, "East of the Sun." Charles Lloyd, tenor saxophone; Keith Jarrett, piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums.
Jack DeJohnette was important because he fused power, subtlety, and innovation across jazz’s most transformative eras.
He moved fluidly between straight-ahead swing, avant-garde abstraction, and electric fusion. He could anchor a groove or dissolve into texture. This made him indispensable from the 1960s through the 2020s.
• Miles Davis — Played on Bitches Brew (1969), helping redefine jazz with rock, funk, and open improvisation.
• Keith Jarrett Trio — Drummer for 30+ years in one of jazz’s longest-running groups, blending classical touch and rhythmic elasticity.
• Chicago avant-garde — Worked with Muhal Richard Abrams and AACM musicians, bridging inside/outside styles.
• New Directions, Special Edition, Gateway — His own groups pushed composition, free improv, and global rhythms.
DeJohnette was a colorist. His cymbal work, use of space, and dynamic control let him play melodically, not just rhythmically. He approached drums like a composer.
He expanded what jazz drumming could be: more than timekeeping, more than flash. Drummers like Brian Blade, Eric Harland, and Tyshawn Sorey carry his legacy.
He remained vital for over 60 years, adapting without imitating trends. His work crossed generations, always with integrity.
In short: DeJohnette didn’t just play behind great music—he shaped it.#jackdejohnette
