Jack DeJohnette, the influential jazz/fusion/new jazz drummer, died this weekend at Kingston Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He was 83.
Born in Chicago, he was originally formally schooled in piano and was self schooled in drums. He moved to New York in 1966 where he quickly adapted to the challenging scene. He worked with Charles Lloyd on Forest Flower, and played with Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Henry Grimes, Freddie Hubbard and even substituted once for Elvin Jones for John Coltrane’s quartet
DeJohnette then joined Miles Davis, who was changing his direction by incorporating electric instruments to pioneer jazz rock fusion. He became an essential part of this sound, adding funk and rock beats to the music.
One of his other major collaborations was with former bandmate Keith Jarrett, a influential piano trio that performed for three decades.
His solo work and other collaborations were unique in their sense of groove and abstract concepts. This made for a great partnership with European label ECM records. DeJohnette played with Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison on In Movement on ECM on 2016.
DeJohnette was well known and liked by his neighbor musicians in Woodstock. In 2017, he recorded and released an album with John Medeski, John Schofield and Larry Grenadier, Hudson which featured many jazz covers of 60s-70s music associated with the Woodstock area.
DeJohnette’s 81st birthday party in Kingston included a supergroup performance that included George Colligan, Carlos and Cindy Santana, Living Colour, Manuel Quintana, Don Byron and Wallace Roney Jr.
Known for his generosity, DeJohnette gave drummer Sylvia Cuenca a ride cymbal when she had hers stolen when on tour.
Jack DeJohnette will be missed by New Yorkers and jazz fans and musicians around the world.
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