Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed an interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan.
He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1949 and subsequently played in a Detroit houseband led by Billy Mitchell. He moved to New York in 1955 and worked as a sideman for Charles Mingus, Teddy Charles, Bud Powell and Miles Davis.
From 1960 to 1966 he was a member of the John Coltrane quartet (along with Jimmy Garrison on bass and McCoy Tyner on piano), a celebrated recording phase, appearing on such albums as A Love Supreme. Following his work with Coltrane, Jones led several small groups, some under the name The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. His brothers Hank Jones and Thad Jones were also jazz musicians with whom he recorded. He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1995.
Biography
Early life
Elvin Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to parents Henry and Olivia Jones, who had moved to Michigan from Vicksburg, Mississippi. His brothers, Hank Jones and Thad Jones, both became important jazz musicians. By age two he said he knew he held a fascination for drums. He would watch the circus marching band parades go by his home as a boy, particularly fascinated by the drummers. Following his early passion, Elvin joined his high school's black marching band, where he developed his foundation in rudiments. Jones began service in the United States Army in 1946. He was discharged in 1949, and returned home penniless. Jones said he borrowed thirty-five dollars from his sister when he got back to buy his first drumset.
Podcasts:
Elvin Jones
ALBUMS
- Elvin! released: 2007
- Very Rare released: 2006
- Brother John released: 2003
- The Complete Blue Note Elvin Jones Sessions released: 2000
- At This Point in Time released: 1998
- On the Mountain released: 1994
- It Don't Mean a Thing released: 1993
- The Big Beat released: 1991
- Live at the Village Vanguard released: 1990
- Earth Jones released: 1982
- Love & Peace released: 1982
- Hollow Out released: 1977
- Summit Meeting released: 1977
- Time Capsule released: 1977
- Puttin' It Together released: 1977
- The Main Force released: 1976
- New Agenda released: 1975
- Mr. Jones released: 1973
- Heavy Sounds released: 1968
- Midnight Walk released: 1967
- Rip, Rig & Panic released: 1965
- Dear John C. released: 1965
- Power Trio released:
- Youngblood released:
- Momentum Space released:
Born: 1927-09-09
Died: 2004-05-18
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by Buddy Whittington
Minor Blues
by: Buddy WhittingtonThey say the globe is getting warmer,
While the world’s still growing cold
There’s no room in the shelter,
For the hungry and the old,
People living under bridges, in confusion and despair.
Their keeping house in cardboard boxes
In the sub zero night air.
With no hope of employment there ain’t much left to
lose,
It’s a major situation, giving me the minor blues.
On the corner stares a hooker, with the hollow looking
eyes,
She’ll turn a trick and score an fix an overdose an
die.
By the time the county’s buried her,
In a low rent pauper’s grave,
Her little sister’s out there on that corner sick with
aids,
You won’t see it in the paper ‘cause it seldom makes
the news,
But it’s a major situation giving me the minor blues.
The minor blues is saddest with its’ own sorrow and
pain,
You’ll know it when you hear it with its sombre sad
refrain,
You say it’s not my problem, say there’s nothing I can
But this ain’t some third world country,
It’s right here with me and you.
It’s a game-land in the school yard, no place to play
and run,
Twelve year olds with crack-pots smoking ice and
packin’ guns,
See them hangin’ round the dope house,
Gettin’ high and skippin’ school,
Cause no-one’s at home to love them,
Teach them not to play the fool,
So the game becomes the family, the only one they ever
knew,
It’s a major situation, givin’ me the minor blues,
Street man in the alley, in an alcoholic haze,
Built a bonfire in a barrel, keepin’ warm back there
for days,
Said I’d lost my wife and family, back in 1993,
Till the lord comes back to get us,
This is how it looks for me.
It’s bedlam in the jailhouse as the doors revolve
again,
There housing 25 where there should be eight to ten,
Streets are filled with characters, all released too
soon,
It ain’t because they’ve done their time,
It’s ‘cause they’re out o’ room.
It’s called the justice system; they say it works for
me and you,
But the law is laced with loopholes and cracks that let
the criminals crawl through.
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