Rest in peace, Paul Motian.

November 22, 2011 2:17 PM

Paul Motian (wiki) (myspace) (allaboutjazz), one of the great jazz drummers of our time, is dead at 80.

Paul Motian rose to prominence playing with the Bill Evans Trio in the late '50s and early '60s.

He played with Paul Bley and then spent many years with Keith Jarret.

He went on to form his trio with Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell.

Over the years he played with many others including Chris Potter and Jason Moran, Lee Konitz, Tony Malaby and Ben Monder, Geri Allen, Chick Corea and many more.



He thought Jimmy Crawford was a motherfucker (in the good way).

Chicago Reader, NPR, LA Times announcements.


Rest in rhythm, Paul Motian.

posted by Lutoslawski (30 comments total)

.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 2:19 PM on November 22, 2011

Damn.
.
posted by davebush at 2:21 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by .kobayashi. at 2:24 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by mannequito at 2:52 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by Wolof at 2:59 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by HumanComplex at 3:09 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by klausness at 3:34 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by newdaddy at 3:37 PM on November 22, 2011

♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:38 PM on November 22, 2011

There aren't many who can make drums sing. Now there's one fewer.
.
 
posted by Herodios at 3:40 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by box at 3:55 PM on November 22, 2011

Swinging, mellow, cool. He knew what notes he was playing.

.
posted by kozad at 4:03 PM on November 22, 2011

♪♪
posted by Minus215Cee at 4:15 PM on November 22, 2011

He was indeed a very fine drummer and a very creative musician.

.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:44 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by trip and a half at 4:46 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by waxpancake at 5:04 PM on November 22, 2011

oh man. I was just listening to Jarrett's Fort Yawuh on the way home (where Motian and Haden rip it up). I only got to see him play once - with Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell some years back. It was a masterclass in getting the most out of not very much. A weird drummer in a lot of ways, and writer of odd, fragmented little tunes that somehow stick in the head. I'll miss him.

.
posted by peterkins at 5:45 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by ryanshepard at 6:12 PM on November 22, 2011

.

Truly great, often overlooked.
posted by Saxon Kane at 7:41 PM on November 22, 2011

I have a friend who used to play guitar in rock bands in the 80s. He often said that drummers were not musicians. If he had heard Paul Motian he wouldn't ever say that again. Just listen to Evans at the Village Vanguard and you will hear drums make MUSIC.
posted by Ber at 8:12 PM on November 22, 2011

He often said that drummers were not musicians.

My late father, a jazz musician, would have agreed with your friend that rock drummers are not musicians. (I disagree with both of them.)
posted by Superfrankenstein at 8:32 PM on November 22, 2011

Also:

.
posted by Superfrankenstein at 8:33 PM on November 22, 2011

.
posted by motty at 8:59 PM on November 22, 2011

No drummer ever made Bill Evans sound better. Bill Evans never made any other drummer sound better.


.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 11:21 PM on November 22, 2011

Don't forget the Electric Bebop Band. He was one of those musicians whose mere presence meant a record would be worth listening to.
posted by nja at 12:38 AM on November 23, 2011

.
posted by Meatafoecure at 1:21 AM on November 23, 2011

Saxophonist Ellery Eskelin shares some thoughts on playing (once) with Paul Motian.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:14 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

.
posted by andrewraff at 10:48 AM on November 23, 2011

Awwwww, fuck.

Motian was badder than I'll ever be. One of a kind.
posted by waxbanks at 6:20 PM on November 23, 2011

.
posted by safetyfork at 8:10 PM on November 23, 2011