The great Jack DeJohnette

BlueMiles · May-26th-2006, 08:27 PM

I don't want to get into any big debates, but my thinking is that Jack is the greatest drummer alive. He has taken on the mantle, in my view, with the deaths of Tony Williams and Elvin Jones. One can argue that he has been an even more vital force than those two. I'm finally starting to truly enjoy the Jarrett "standards" trio, in large part because of Jack D's stunning playing.

His work as a leader, mostly for ECM....some great stuff. "Special Edition" with Blythe and Murray...now there's a group that should have recorded more than once. He seems to be moving in all kinds of new directions on his own label. A collaboration with Bill Frisell...that begs to be heard.

His work with Charles Lloyd, Miles, Gateway the meeting with everyone....Tyner, Scofield, Metheny, Surman, Lovano, the list goes on forever.

Great player, great composer, great creative force.

Jason Bivins · May-26th-2006, 08:29 PM

BlueMiles, I don't know if I'd place him as "greatest living drummer" but I agree whole-heartedly about his unqualified greatness. He can still hypnotize me, I mean completely - his accents can be so wonderfully unexpected and his flow can be just so fierce. Love him, love him, love him.

Nate Dorward · May-26th-2006, 09:38 PM

Thoughts on the new duo with Bill Frisell, anyone?

gonzo · May-26th-2006, 09:38 PM

i will second that nomination for jack greatest jazz drummer!!:

Ron Thorne · May-26th-2006, 10:11 PM

While I greatly admire Jack DeJohnette, and have for decades, he's one of several living drummers who could also easily qualify for this lofty title.

Among others, within the jazz genre:

Roy Haynes
Jimmy Cobb
Max Roach
Paul Motian

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMiles

Great player, great composer, great creative force.

I couldn't agree more with those sentiments, BM.

Pete C · May-26th-2006, 10:35 PM

Ron, Max is living, but he ain't drumming.

BFrank · May-27th-2006, 01:28 AM

"Saudades" by Trio Beyond is due out in a week or so on ECM. It's a tribute to Tony Williams with Larry Goldings and John Scofield. I saw this group when they came to Yoshi's. The album should be smokin'.

Ron Thorne · May-27th-2006, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Ron, Max is living, but he ain't drumming.

Pete, I'm hip to that, sadly.

However, in essence, this comment is what prompted this thread -- "Jack is the greatest drummer alive . . ."

Max is a *great* drummer, easily on a par with Jack, and, he's still alive.

shrugs · May-27th-2006, 12:39 PM

Captain Hate · May-27th-2006, 03:29 PM

I don't hear the sense of adventure with Jack anymore. Groups like New Directions and Special Edition used to make me sit up and take notice. Earth Walk was ok but a step down from those prior groups imo. Maybe Saudades will get it going for me again.

hornplayer · May-27th-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

Ron, Max is living, but he ain't drumming.

even sadder to say.... Max is alive, but he isn't "living." its a tragedy.

BlueMiles · May-27th-2006, 04:21 PM

So, what is up with Max Roach? Extremely poor health? I know he's been scarce the last few years, but he is in his mid-80s.

Max's firepower, creative juices, and historical importance do make him perhaps the greatest.

I was so hip to the combination of Max and Sonny Rollins.

I'd like to hear that Lifetime tribute album. I had thought it was going to be under Scofield's name, but it makes sense to have a group name. I can't think of anyone else who could better take Tony's place.

Captain Hate · May-27th-2006, 04:55 PM

BlueMiles, I'm pretty sure it's Alzheimers.

Did you ever see him when he played at Tri-C's main auditorium? I wasn't so much impressed with the band (I swear that it was the worst Odean Pope playing ever) so much as the drum playing. Max would always combine some lectures on jazz styles with the rest of the songs and he was always a picture of economy of motion producing incredibly melodic rhythms.

Mark of Cenla · May-27th-2006, 07:07 PM

I agree that DeJohnette is one of the drumming greats. I will definately get that CD with Goldings and Scofield. Peace.

jazzgregg · May-27th-2006, 07:58 PM

I firmly believe there is no 'best', so instead of answering the question, I'll just talk bout why Jack is the man, 'specially for us drum-guys (or at least, me).
I love Jack, he's a complete musician. Jack's approach to the drumset being like that of a piano player and his fluid, organic feel and ideas lead him to be a total individual without the standard 'bag of tricks'. His contributions to modern Jazz with Gateway, Lloyd and Jarrett alone are immense. No one sounds like Jack.

G

gonzo · May-28th-2006, 05:31 AM

so sorry to hear of max's declining health. i might go as far as saying that max is/was one of the greats ever, if not the greatest.

clinthopson · May-28th-2006, 11:26 AM

I'll take Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash over DeJohnette any day.

BlueMiles · May-29th-2006, 07:34 PM

Damn, I never saw Max in person. For that matter, I don't think I've seen Jack De. Nor Elvin. But at least I was able to see the magnificent Tony Williams.

I've seen Lewis Nash in person and heard him on a lot of records. He kicks ass on the kit, but I doubt that he has Jack's musicality. Jeff Hamilton...couldn't pick him out in a blindfold test.

Gentle Giant · May-30th-2006, 09:37 AM

Jack always brings fire, energy, and creativity, and he has the flexibility to add his genius to a wide variety of musical structures and styles. I admire and enjoy him greatly.

Slurpy · June-1st-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Thoughts on the new duo with Bill Frisell, anyone?

??? I'd be interested in hearing about this, too.

BlueMiles · June-7th-2006, 10:53 PM

I've heard some snippets from the album with Frisell, and it got a good review in Downbeat. Not surprisingly, there is some very different stuff on here, though they seem to play it pretty straight on a lovely version of "After the Rain."

Just got around to checking out Kenny Wheeler's "Deer Wan." Here we have Wheeler and Jan Garbarek (in fine form) backed by the Gateway trio. I need to listen some more, but it sounds like a wonderful record.

ribot_for_president · June-8th-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Thoughts on the new duo with Bill Frisell, anyone?

Or that new Trio Beyond album, for that matter.

Ron Thorne · June-8th-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMiles

Just got around to checking out Kenny Wheeler's "Deer Wan." Here we have Wheeler and Jan Garbarek (in fine form) backed by the Gateway trio. I need to listen some more, but it sounds like a wonderful record.

Deer Wan is one of my very favorite ECM releases . . . ever. Extraordinary! It's a timeless beauty, both in terms of the compositions and the musicianship of Kenny Wheeler, Jan Garbarek, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. Ralph Towner also appears on one track. And, it was recorded in 1977.

Another stellar Wheeler disc with DeJohnette is Gun High.

jazzgregg · June-8th-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Deer Wan is one of my very favorite ECM releases . . . ever. Extraordinary! It's a timeless beauty, both in terms of the compositions and the musicianship of Kenny Wheeler, Jan Garbarek, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. Ralph Towner also appears on one track. And, it was recorded in 1977.

Another stellar Wheeler disc with DeJohnette is Gun High.

I SWEAR I posted basically the same post last night, minus the cover. I guess I didn't. Thanks for posting Ron=)

G

MRS · June-8th-2006, 11:01 PM

rene · June-8th-2006, 11:36 PM

The best De Johnnette i've heard on a Kenny Wheeler album is on 'Double Double You'. Jack's presence and consistent powerful playing inspire Wheeler, Brecker & Holland. For a very good sampling of why Jack's reputation gets the rave reviews above, his fiery playing on the last cut of the album, 'Mark Time' is just amazing to hear!

Ron Thorne · June-9th-2006, 01:14 AM

I quite agree, Rene. Jack deserve raves for that among countless other performances.

It's virtually impossible to boil it down to one or two recordings, no matter who the artist may be. Not to mention the obvious . . . that it's totally subjective.

Alino · June-11th-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rene

The best De Johnnette i've heard on a Kenny Wheeler album is on 'Double Double You'. Jack's presence and consistent powerful playing inspire Wheeler, Brecker & Holland. For a very good sampling of why Jack's reputation gets the rave reviews above, his fiery playing on the last cut of the album, 'Mark Time' is just amazing to hear!

:-)
I think it has some of the very best Breker too....

Squaredancecalling Steve · June-11th-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzgregg

I SWEAR I posted basically the same post last night, minus the cover. I guess I didn't. Thanks for posting Ron=)

G

You probably did, Greg. There was something weird happening that night at JC and everything posted between certain hours was lost. (There's a bit of mention about this in the NBA thread, I lost the chess move I posted, and you couldn't log on.)

Dr Dave · June-11th-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

I'll take Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash over DeJohnette any day.

Now, that is a moldy fig reply. I think (well, at the moment...) that maybe DeJohnette actually is the greatest living drummer, even though I'd much rather listen to Lewis Nash. Nash is the consummate professional artist: He goes out of his way to make the people he's playing with sound great. I really do believe he was the most sympathetic accompanist to the late Tommy Flanagan, for example.

DeJohnette, I'd argue, is a more selfish player. I've heard it said (Rafi Zabor inserted it into his novel "The Bear Comes Home") that DeJohnette always sounds great, but the people he plays with don't always sound great. DeJohnette is a bravura player--he calls attention to himself, and why not? He can sound like Superman when he wants to. In my opinion, you don't get the mantle of Greatest Living Drummer unless you put yourself forward. Ol' Jack certainly can do that.