Legendary Jazz Drummer, Jack DeJohnette, Dies at 83

News has come in that legendary jazz drummer, Jack DeJohnette, just passed away at the age of 83.

DeJohnette was one of those musicians whose name simply being listed on an album’s credits was always enough for me to pick it up. Although he backed major players like Charles Lloyd and Bill Evans early in his career, I first became aware of his talents through his contributions on Miles Davis classics like Bitches Brew, A Tribute To Jack Johnson, Big Fun, Live-EVIL, and On The Corner.

The drummer/pianist’s extensive catalog of releases under his own name includes titles like Sorcery that demonstrate his abilities as a bandleader, while projects like his 1977 LP, Pictures, which found him supported solely by guitarist and frequent collaborator, John Abercrombie, pushed his ingenuity behind the kit front and center.

DeJohnette collaborated with more notable jazz icons than I could count, but just a handful of names that he supported on record are Sonny Rollins, Joe Zawinul, Alice Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Miroslav Vitouś, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, and Stan Getz. He even performed multiple times with Sun Ra.

Embedded here is a clip of the late drummer recorded in 1990. At the time, he was touring in a quartet alongside Dave Holland, Herbie Hancock, and Pat Metheny — the latter two had just appeared on his Parallel Realities LP. Although about half of the set was comprised of original DeJohnette compositions, “Shadow Dance” is actually a Holland tune. This rendition, which begins their concert at Philadelphia’s Mellon Jazz Festival (June 23, 1990), is over 15 minutes long. The recording starts cold, a solitary DeJohnette floating around the kit in the casual flurry of a hummingbird, as if second nature. As each member —  first Holland‘s bass, then Herbie on the keys, and, eventually, Metheny‘s dextrous guitar work — join him with their own unique styles and contributions, Jack‘s rhythms adjust, mutate, and weave around them, providing both rock-solid foundation and intricate sonic architecture to house, juggle, balance, and give shape to the elaborate tapestry they form as a collective. There are endless examples of the Chicago-born luminary doing the seemingly impossible, but I feel like this video highlights Jack‘s drumming nicely, while offering a small sample what he was capable of. The manner in which this clip unfurls and presents his versatility is something that should leave anyone in awe, whether you’re a hardcore jazzbo or a complete novice. It’s a great introduction for anyone that needs one.

Jack DeJohnette‘s legacy and influence can not be overstated. He was a beast and a wizard.

We’re obviously posting this as a tribute to Jack for all of you who already have a deep love of his career and will be mourning his irreplaceable loss today. That said, we also recognize these moments as opportunities to celebrate his remarkable legacy and expand its reach. Hopefully, DeJohnette‘s passing will lead to new fans discovering his work or even finding a greater love of jazz in general. Drummers who have only a peripheral awareness of him or none at all can prepare to have their world turned inside out. With an artist this prolific and mesmerizing, there’s a lifetime’s worth of discovery ahead of anyone who chooses to embark on it