20th Anniversary Celebration of Jones for Elvin

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Jones for Elvin Volume 1 & 2, I have reassembled the musicians on the recording (minus the late Elvin Jones of course) to reprise the repertoire and perform some additional music that I wrote for Elvin after the recording. We will perform 5-7pm July 15 at the Royal Room (5000 Rainier Ave S) in Seattle. Admission is $12.

Drum Battle with Art Blakey

Doug Meola posted this drum battle video. Birdland hosted Monday night drum battles

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Elvin Jones' Gear for Sale

Donn Bennett is selling some of Elvin's drums. Check out the 1990s Yamaha Maple Custom Set for just $34,995 at https://reverb.com/item/776588-elvin-jones-1990s-yamaha-maple-custom-drum-set-authenticated

Elvin Jones Drum Battle with Ginger Baker

Kinesthetic Trip

The February 6, 1970 issue of Life magazine featured an article on Elvin written by Albert Goldman. The first part of the article describes Elvin's trio on a gig at Danny's Restaurant and ends with Goldman spinning rock records for Elvin the next day. After hearing Ginger Baker, Elvin says, "Nothing’s happenin'. Cat’s got delusions of grandeur with no grounds. They should make him an astronaut and lose his ass." Read the article at https://books.google.com/books?id=Y1AEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA12&dq=%22They%20should%20make%20him%20an%20astronaut%20and%20lose%20his%20ass%22&pg=PA12#v=onepage&q=%22They%20should%20make%20him%20an%20astronaut%20and%20lose%20his%20ass%22&f=false

Jazz Master

Elvin was named NEA Jazz Master in 2003. The 113 page transcript of his oral history can be read at http://amhistory.si.edu/jazz/Jones-Elvin/Jones_Elvin_Transcript.pdf.

Shadow Wilson

"Shadow" Wilson was a favorite of Elvin. Shadow performed with Monk and Coltrane at the Five Spot. I believe that Elvin must have heard how comfortable Coltrane was with Shadow's wide swing. Shadow was Monk's favorite drummer.

Elvin came to New York from Detroit to audition for Benny Goodman. When Elvin didn't get the gig. "Then they told me 'you know Shadow Wilson was here yesterday and he didn’t make
it either!' (Laughs) So I didn’t feel so bad when I heard about that."

When Coltrane formed his own band, he had already played with many great drummers. Did he pick Elvin because he sounded like Shadow?

On Elvin's self titled release, he performs "Shadowland," a beautiful ballad written by Sara Cassey. Elvin copies Shadow's quiet accompaniment on slow songs.