Great Jazz Drummer Dies

[AssKissinger]

ELVIN JONES, who I consider to be the greatest drummer of all time has passed away.




Reuters News Story

Known for his explosive drumming style, Jones was a fixture in Coltrane's influential quintet from 1960-66. A pioneer of greater improvisation among jazz percussionists, he was viewed by some jazz critics as the best drummer in the world

Notice how the Reuters' story plagiarizes this biography.

Biography

There is a Japan connection. He married a Japanese woman and spent a lot of time here.

Several years ago Elvin married Keiko, who he met in Nagasaki, Japan. Keiko has become Elvin's partner in every sense: beside providing inspiration, she is also his personal manager and business manager. Keiko, who always travels with the band, act as his secretary, stagehand valet and alter-ego. Keiko is involved creatively as composer and arranger; Elvin has performed and recorded many of her works, including Mr. Jones, Shinjitsu, and Zange. But more than anything she is one of music's great ladies.

God Bless You Mrs Keiko Jones.

[AssKissinger]

A great place to hear Jones's drumming at its peak is on John Coltrane's A Love Supreme.


For those who don't know, this is one of the greatest jazz records of all time and in my opinion the greatest. His drumming on it is incredible because its so wild and frantic yet on the other hand it never interferes with the musical themes of the record. Try focusing on just the drums when listening to A Love Supreme.

A Love Supreme is one of the great musical achievements of all time. It's similar to Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Beethoven's Fifth in the way that the whole composition grows out of the single seed that is the opening phrase.

[Taro Toporific]

ELVIN JONES, who I consider to be the greatest drummer of all time has passed away.

Back in August of 1997, Mrs Taro was helping with the jazz-ongaku fusion workshop of "Takedake" John Kaizan Neptune, at the Ocean Blue Jazz Festival in Ibaraki.... Elvin Jones sat in! Good guy and grrreat teacher. His Japanese vocab for music wasn't half bad either.

[omae mona]

ELVIN JONES, who I consider to be the greatest drummer of all time has passed away.

There is a Japan connection. He married a Japanese woman and spent a lot of time here.

I wanted to post something 24 hours ago but the obvious Japan connection didn't cross my mind! Well, I've been depressed for the last 24 hours since I picked up this news. They've been going nuts playing recordings featuring him on KCSM for those who are on broadband and want to listen.

I met Elvin and Keiko two times briefly in the early nineties. Almost had to check into the hospital for x-rays after Elvin shook my hand. On top of the fact that he was the greatest living drummer, we've lost a great spirit too.

I haven't been this depressed since when we lost Joe Henderson two years ago.

[Dynamic Jointmeister]

R.I.P.