I had to encounters with Elvin; the first in Toronto when I was on the road with a Motown group, Celebration. There was an afternoon performance with Elvin's band, featuring Joe Farrell. Joe played a long beautiful intro and I closed my eyes to listen. At the end of the intro he played the first few notes of My Ship, I opened my eyes and Elvin was looking straight at me and smiling. The second was at Marla's Memory Lane in L.A. Elvin had 2 tenors players. At the end of the set he walked up the aisle straight to my table and shook my hand.
I had the good fortune to meet Elvin Jones, as I was introduced to him by a friend of his a great drummer named George Brown who played with Wes Montgomery very early on recording on Riverside and George was heavily influenced by Elvin’s style, and he helped me in many ways. I believe I first saw Elvin Jones with the trio in Los Angeles probably around 1969 maybe earlier I’m not quite sure but I just had met Jimmy Garrison before I actually saw Elvin and Coltrane just passed and I actually visited Jimmy at his apartment with George Brown and Jimmy related to us being with Coltrane at the hospital and he talked about John and how he checked out. Elvin was very kind to me over the years and I would have to say that of all the great drummers that I have met in my life,(I am now approaching 81) Elvin and Billy Higgins and Donald Duck Bailey took the time to set me down and show me stuff.. basically not to try so hard and let the music come through you and try to make the drums talk have a conversation with your other musicians on the band stand and listen most of all let the music breathe and swing. If It doesn’t have that feeling,It’s really in so many ways irrelevant it’s gotta have that feel and Elvin talked about the church experience the old rugged cross, and people singing …as a child in church is where I believe Melvin got the great feel that he had from the church. I’m so thankful to have met Elvin as his sound was not only unique, but it was very powerful and he uplifted not only his bandmates with the entire audience …he did not need 15 microphones. He was so strong. I remember watching his wife KEIKO she would set up his drums and she actually would take a hammer and two nails and pound them in front of the Bass drum as Elvin hit so hard that the Drums would move forward. I saw her do this at Yoshis in Oakland . in summary, Mr. Jones was larger than life and he was the epitome of what a band leader is all about. He encouraged the next generation coming up and he gave 100% every time he played. I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with him.
I had to encounters with Elvin; the first in Toronto when I was on the road with a Motown group, Celebration. There was an afternoon performance with Elvin's band, featuring Joe Farrell. Joe played a long beautiful intro and I closed my eyes to listen. At the end of the intro he played the first few notes of My Ship, I opened my eyes and Elvin was looking straight at me and smiling. The second was at Marla's Memory Lane in L.A. Elvin had 2 tenors players. At the end of the set he walked up the aisle straight to my table and shook my hand.
Great story. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT GEORGE!
I had the good fortune to meet Elvin Jones, as I was introduced to him by a friend of his a great drummer named George Brown who played with Wes Montgomery very early on recording on Riverside and George was heavily influenced by Elvin’s style, and he helped me in many ways. I believe I first saw Elvin Jones with the trio in Los Angeles probably around 1969 maybe earlier I’m not quite sure but I just had met Jimmy Garrison before I actually saw Elvin and Coltrane just passed and I actually visited Jimmy at his apartment with George Brown and Jimmy related to us being with Coltrane at the hospital and he talked about John and how he checked out. Elvin was very kind to me over the years and I would have to say that of all the great drummers that I have met in my life,(I am now approaching 81) Elvin and Billy Higgins and Donald Duck Bailey took the time to set me down and show me stuff.. basically not to try so hard and let the music come through you and try to make the drums talk have a conversation with your other musicians on the band stand and listen most of all let the music breathe and swing. If It doesn’t have that feeling,It’s really in so many ways irrelevant it’s gotta have that feel and Elvin talked about the church experience the old rugged cross, and people singing …as a child in church is where I believe Melvin got the great feel that he had from the church. I’m so thankful to have met Elvin as his sound was not only unique, but it was very powerful and he uplifted not only his bandmates with the entire audience …he did not need 15 microphones. He was so strong. I remember watching his wife KEIKO she would set up his drums and she actually would take a hammer and two nails and pound them in front of the Bass drum as Elvin hit so hard that the Drums would move forward. I saw her do this at Yoshis in Oakland . in summary, Mr. Jones was larger than life and he was the epitome of what a band leader is all about. He encouraged the next generation coming up and he gave 100% every time he played. I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with him.
Great stories and insights. THANK YOU MYRON
Did he talk about his relationship with his brothers Hank and Thad?
Not in this meeting. But there's a lot of good stuff coming. THANK YOU DAVID