Let me send you a virtual hug and with it express my deeply gratitude for the Music your father gave us. Elvin was, is and will be the greatest. We must never forget it.
Your father's music helped to shape my musical tastes, becoming hugely influential as an exemplary musician to me, and many others. I wish I could've met, and thanked the man in person.
When I think of a musician who has truly mastered their instrument, I think first of Elvin Jones. A completely unique and marvelous talent. I saw him play live every chance I got.
Elvin was a real intellectual.... A true genius. His genius won't likely every be seen again. This documentary sends tears down my face. I wish I had met the man...it would have been an honor to do so. RIP Elvin.
I met him once after a show at the blue note. He came out to embrace Tommy Flanagan who was sitting at the table in front of me. Elvin pulls up a chair and sat down at our table (after speaking to Mr Flanagan for a few minutes). He just said “Hello how are you” (or something I don’t remember because I was busy trying unsuccessfully to not to make a fool of myself). Gentle humble man.
I have always been a great coltrane adept. Tracks like persuance on a love supreme, or chim chim cheree still move me to tears because of the sheer energy. Took me a while to figure out that what moved me so much was Elvin as much as Coltrane
I saw Elvin Jones at the Village Vanguard in the early 70s. He had Gene Perla on bass, two sax players (maybe Dave Liebman and Steve Grossman, or possibly Frank Foster), but no piano or guitar. Seeing Elvin and his band at such close quarters in that tiny, tiny club was unbelievably intense. One of the tunes they played hat night was "Three Card Molly", which is featured several places in this film. The tune is on his 1971 album called "Genesis" , which is probably my favorite record of his as a leader. I saw him again a few years later in Portland, Oregon, which was also a great show but not quite as overpowering. RIP Elvin, a true force of nature and one of the most creative musicians I've ever heard. Thank you for posting this!!!
There's something about Elvins style being flashy and complimentary in a very harmonious way. I think the way a drummer expresses themself transcends beyond the drum set. Like the way a drummer looks and feels influences the way they play and vice-versa. Elvin is one stylish cat!
this whole video is spectacular, ive seen parts not all of it like this. The part at 12:01 when he starts to talk about Coltrane i found captivating. And after that him describing the colors...
I used to think that whole bit about color was crazy, but the opposite is true. Associating colors with numbers (in this case, specific keys and pitches) is considered high level thinking. A great drummer and a great thinker. The great Elvin Jones. Thanks for posting this film.
What a humble Gentleman. There's a thing on youtube where a recent mathematician relates Coltrane's tone patterns to the highest level of 'Universal' equations... ps-Great Movie.
Thanks for uploading this. The Vanguard interview is from 1979. The line-up has changed. 1978 Azar Lawrence has played the sax instead of Pat LaBarbara.
Not ma drunmner. don't usually watch all drummer video's but this guy is musical, distinctive, musical, powerful but overwhelming where technique and flash overwhelm the music.
