The only thing I can think to say at this point is that I will be playing "Your Lady" (from COLTRANE LIVE AT BIRDLAND) at high volume this evening.

Another jazz giant gone. What a terrible loss.

Me & Mr. Mr. Jones Mr. Jones. I met Elvin Jones just over a month ago in Boston after a show at the Regattabar. It was an incredible honor. Despite his health, his smile was as big as I imagine it ever was. He was a living legend. It won't ever really feel like he's gone.

It's 7.27am here and, having been woken up by my son (Max, 5), I'm nursing a FURIOUS hangover for the simple reason we had Jacques Berrocal round for dinner last night (whose capacity to imbibe is legendary), during which we decided the only obituary for a musician is to play the music FUCKING LOUD. So kitticats, what's yr favourite Jones? Mine was TRANSITION

dan, dont know if it is my favourite one, Transition is nice, yeah this piece in duo at the end of it i really like it too.
i saw Mr Jones and his Jazz Machine at least four times. always such a pleasure to stare at Jones and his somehow 'suffering' faces and mouth expressions. for me, such musicians seems obviously so happy playing and giving so much of their energy which is very pleasant as audience.

i am playing 'Vigil' quite loud now...

Can’t really pick a fave either- so many choices. But I was listening to Rollins’ LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD set last night over multiple glasses of Mouton Noir (cheap ass French Cab-Shiraz blend that ain’t half bad) w/ my lady & found myself marveling at Jones’ traps play yet again.

It’s him in his proto-polyrhythms stage, but he’s trying all kinds of crazy shit there just the same. Lots of kooky propulsive accents, & patterns with peripheral percussion during the breaks. Sometimes a bit too noisy & coarse, but the creativity is pretty consistent & impressive. And RVG’s remaster shaves off whole new layers of sonic dust to reveal even more nuance. Newk & Wilbur Ware are massive too [Ware’s solo on the reading of “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”- now on disc two- still ranks as my favorite contrabass sortie]. That was a trio for the ages.

Favorite Elvin? Hmmmmm... not sure I can pick just one album or even performance, but here are my highlights:

-- the aforementioned "Your Lady"
-- Larry Young's UNITY
-- the way he shifts into high gear the minute Trane enters (soprano sax) on the otherwise kind of spark-less "Ole"
-- Lee Konitz's MOTION
-- "Broadway Blues" from Ornette's NEW YORK IS NOW
-- the collaborations with Dollar Brand on MIDNIGHT WALK
-- Tommy Flanagan's TRIO OVERSEAS; prime early Elvin