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Jack DeJohnette

Jack DeJohnette is an NEA Jazz Master

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music's greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette's family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr., who was one of the most popular jazz DJ's in the South side of Chicago, later vice president of the National Network of Black Broadcasters, as the person who initially inspired him to pursue music.

In his early years on the Chicago scene, he led his own groups and was equally in demand as a pianist and as a drummer. He played R & B, hard bop, and avant-garde and was active with the experimentalists of the AACM in its early days, with the likes of founder Muhal Richard Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman. In 1966, he drummed alongside Rashied Ali in the John Coltrane Quintet. International recognition came with his tenure in the Charles Lloyd Quartet, one of the first jazz groups to receive cross- over attention, also alerting the world to Keith Jarrett's skills.

Jack De Johnette has collaborated with most major figures in jazz history. Some of the great talents he has worked with are John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Jackie McLean, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett, Chet Baker, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Ron Carter, Lee Morgan, Charles Lloyd, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter and Eddie Harris, who is responsible for convincing De Johnette to stick with drums because he heard De Johnette's natural talent.

It was in 1968 that De Johnette joined Miles Davis's group in time for the epochal upheaval marked by "Bitches Brew," an album that changed the direction of jazz. In his autobiography, Miles Davis said, "Jack De Johnette gave me a deep groove that I just loved to play over." Jarrett soon followed De Johnette into the Davis group, and the drummer's first ECM recording, the duet “Rutya and Daitya” was made in 1971. Working with Miles also brought about collaborations with John McLaughlin, Chick Corea and Dave Holland.

In 1968 he recorded his first album as a leader on the Milestone label, called “The De Johnette Complex”, where Jack played melodica along with his mentor Roy Haynes on drums. In the early 70's he recorded “Have You Heard” in Japan and two albums for Prestige, called “Sorcery” and “Cosmic Chicken.” These early sessions united Jack with Gary Peacock, Bennie Maupin, Stanley Cowell, Miroslav Vitous, Eddie Gomez, Alex Foster and Peter Warren.

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Liner Notes

Raul De Souza: Colors

Read "Raul De Souza: Colors" reviewed by Arnaldo DeSouteiro


Raul De Souza's life can be seen as a one-of-a-kind story. Indeed, it would make a perfect novel or film script. It may not be as big a tragedy as 'Round Midnight or Bird, but it has drama, love, adventure, and great music. Picture this: a poor child grows up in Brazil working as a weaver and practicing trombone in conversations with a buffalo in the jungle, dreaming of someday becoming an internationally famous jazzman. Suddenly, this dream ...

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Reassessing

The Electric Years Box Set

Read "The Electric Years Box Set" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


In a year that has brought us a true bounty of previously unheard majesty including Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy (Impulse!), and Bill Evans; Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969), (Elemental Music) it is only fitting that Miles Davis get his due. And in a very, very big way. Seared into modern memory, modern art, the music presented on the gloriously massive, eleven LP set Miles Davis: The Electric Years ...

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Album Review

Jack DeJohnette: Sorcery

Read "Sorcery" reviewed by Rob Garratt


Which Jack DeJohnette is best known? The subtle sticksmith at the heart of Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio, perhaps? Probably the heavyweight hitter driving electric-era Miles Davis' '70s sonic brew. Maybe the percussive upstart propelling Charles Lloyd to crossover flower-power fame? Or even the fearless bandleader behind the ever-thrilling Special Edition band ... At age 81, DeJohnette can (still) fairly claim to be the most in-demand jazz drummer on the planet. But even the most studious acolyte ...

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Album Review

Jack DeJohnette: Sorcery

Read "Sorcery" reviewed by Scott Gudell


Jack DeJohnette gets around. The Chicago born drummer was drawn to R&B and bebop in the late 1950s and eventually toyed with a more avant-garde jazz sound when he spent some time with the esoteric Sun Ra. It seems like DeJohnette played in the big leagues almost from the beginning since, by the time he moved to New York City in the mid-1960s, he was teaming up with other monsters of jazz such as Keith Jarrett and Charles Lloyd. Several ...

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Album Review

Kenny Wheeler: Gnu High

Read "Gnu High" reviewed by Chris May


Trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer Kenny Wheeler's exalted Gnu High, first released in 1976, is one of two albums with which ECM launches its audiophile vinyl reissue series, Luminessence, on April 28, 2023. The Luminessence mission statement is to showcase albums that have “changed perceptions of creative music making." And few would dispute this summation of the first batch of releases (listed below). Some of the albums will be presented in facsimile editions, others--such as Gnu High--in gatefold ...

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Liner Notes

Miles Davis Quintets: Stockholm 1967 & 1969 Revisited

Read "Miles Davis Quintets: Stockholm 1967 & 1969 Revisited" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Let me ask you, how many versions of Miles Davis do you recognize? Let us employ the word 'recognize' in terms of both, to identify and to approve. Listeners new to the world of Miles would be hard pressed to associate the artist seen and heard with Charlie Parker at New York's Three Deuces in 1947 with the same man performing in Montreux, Switzerland some forty years later. Both his look and his sound had changed, making him unrecognizable to ...

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Readers Poll Results

Your Favorite Living Jazz Drummers

Read "Your Favorite Living Jazz Drummers" reviewed by Michael Ricci


All About Jazz member votes were tabulated and this list represents our favorite living jazz drummers. Fully transparent and easily verifiable, All About Jazz's living drummers poll was conducted during the 2022 calendar year running from January to November. We would like to thank every member who participated in creating this impressive list (200 total!) for the next generation of jazz enthusiasts to discover. 1 Jack DeJohnette2Brian Blade3Steve Gadd4Roy Haynes5Peter Erskine6Jeff Tain Watts7Antonio Sanchez8Billy Cobham9Terri Lyne Carrington10Vinnie Colaiuta11Bill ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today!

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today!

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today!

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today!

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

4

Recording

ECM Records Releases Jack DeJohnette's "In Movement"

ECM Records Releases Jack DeJohnette's "In Movement"

Source: Universal Music Group

Jack DeJohnette (drums, piano, electronic percussion) Ravi Coltrane (tenor, soprano and sopranino saxophones ) Matthew Garrison (electric bass, electronics) “A trio of compatible ideals. Featuring Ravi Coltrane on saxophones and Matt Garrison on electric bass, it’s both earthy and elastic, capable of sneaking in and out of song form, disinclined to rush toward resolution.” –Nate Chinen, The New York Times There is a lot of history concentrated in Jack DeJohnette’s adventurous new trio. Fifty years ago, as a guest with ...

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Music Industry

New Vinyl-Only Company Uses Innovative New Model To Release World-Class Artists

New Vinyl-Only Company Uses Innovative New Model To Release World-Class Artists

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Initial year's membership brings private material by Jack DeJohnette, Frank Kimbrough, Noah Preminger, Don Friedman, Ben Allison and Leo Genovese. Guests include Esperanza Spalding, Ted Nash, John Patitucci, Billy Hart and more. “A new kind of record label with a curated repertoire of world class musicians. Newvelle ships six impeccably produced and beautifully packaged vinyl LPs to your door every year. This music is available only on vinyl and solely through Newvelle." Elan & J.C. Explain: Members of Newvelle receive ...

2

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today! Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...

3

Festival

Newport Jazz Festival Adds Jack DeJohnette And Lisa Fischer To 2015 Lineup

Newport Jazz Festival Adds Jack DeJohnette And Lisa Fischer To 2015 Lineup

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations

Newport Jazz Festival Adds Jack DeJohnette: Made in Chicago and Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton to 2015 Lineup NEWPORT, RI – Celebrating music made in Chicago and one of the world’s premier backup singers, George Wein is pleased to announce the additions of Jack DeJohnette: Made in Chicago and Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton to the lineup of the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management July 31 - August 2. “One of the joys ...

3

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today! Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jack DeJohnette

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jack DeJohnette's birthday today!

Born in Chicago in 1942, Jack De Johnette is widely regarded as one of jazz music\'s greatest drummers. Music appreciation flourished in De Johnette\'s family. He studied classical piano from age four until fourteen before beginning to play drums with his high school concert band.and taking private piano lessons at the Chicago conservatory of music. De Johnette credits his uncle, Roy l. Wood Sr.... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sorcery

Craft Recordings
2023

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Gnu High

ECM Records
2023

buy

The Electric Years...

Columbia Records / VMP Anthology
2023

buy

Every Note Is True

Blue Note Records
2022

buy

The Emerald Duets

TUM Records
2022

buy

The Patriot Act

From: The Emerald Duets
By Jack DeJohnette

Ode to South Africa

From: The Elephant Sleeps But Still...
By Jack DeJohnette

Tango African

From: Music We Are
By Jack DeJohnette

Ocean Wave

From: Music From The Hearts Of The...
By Jack DeJohnette

Tango Africaine

From: Live at Yoshi's 2010
By Jack DeJohnette

Sonny Light

From: Sound Travels
By Jack DeJohnette

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