Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Mr. Jones: Ballad of a Skins Man

I am feeling a bit under the weather today, but I am getting out of bed to post this because September 9th is the birthday of the late, great Elvin Jones, widely considered the most influential drummer of our lifetimes.
Originally John Coltrane's drummer during the sax deity's prolific and definitive Impulse! years, EJ brought polyrhythmical complexities whose influence spread across jazz to rock and pop, with people from Mitch Mitchell to Robert Wyatt citing him as having had a seminal effect on their playing and their attitudes towards what was indeed possible.
There isn't much to say about Elvin that hasn't been already, so forget all the descriptive words and paste your eyes and ears to this 38 minute set from French TV in 1973, with the man leading his stellar quartet through several tunes. Look out for tenor titan Steve Grossman and Dr. Lieb, David Liebman, handling saxes and flutes.
Elvin Jones Quartet
"Jazz Session"
French TV
unknown studio
5.29.1973

01 The Children's Merry-Go-Round March
02 Yesterdays
03 Brite Piece

Total time: 37:55

Elvin Jones - drums
Dave Liebman - saxophones, flute
Steve Grossman - saxophones
Gene Perla - bass

PAL DVD from a recent ORTF rebroadcast
He was born on 9/9/1927 and died in 2004, but there may never be another drummer as important and as emulated as Elvin Jones. Please do enjoy this DVD as a taste of that which the man was capable.--J.

2 comments:

  1. hi Nowbodhi, i just stumbled across your blog full of tastiness. is it possible to re-up the elvin jones, the links are no longer working. thanks for your dedication,

    peace

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  2. Thanks Nowbodhi for re-uploading this one. A stellar line-up like all the Elvin bands of 70's.
    This concert was first broadcasted by French television on May 29, 1973 but actually was recorded in Paris late October or early November 1972. Voix off André Francis.

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