Today Daddyo.com dons the color black because Scrappy is in mouring over the loss of drummer, Elvin Jones.
A founding member of the seminal John Coltrane Quartet, Jones powerful, rumbling style redefined jazz drumming in the same way that Coltrane redefined the saxophone. Jones style was poly-rhythmic yet he swung as hard as any drummer I have ever heard. His ability to lay down a bed of rhythmic sound was what enabled Coltrane to move in any direction.
As a teen, I learned to play sax against the backdrop of Elvin’s urging and beautiful drumming. There in my room, I spent countless evenings and nights with Jones drumming.
Rest In Peace Elvin Jones.
For what it’s worth, in the Fresh Air interrview linked below, Jones, discussing his time with Coltrane, says that the band never rehearsed once! He said he usually didn’t know what the band was about to play until the downbeat.
A Few Elvin Jones links:
Listen to an interview of Elvin from Fresh Air