Results for "Drums"

Franklin Kiermyer

Born: July 21, 1956

Drummer/composer Franklin Kiermyer first came to prominence following the release of Solomon's Daughter, his highly acclaimed third album that features John Coltrane alumnus Pharoah Sanders on saxophone. Widely regarded for his intense passionate energy, spiritual feeling and distinctive sound, his nine albums and many performances have brought his music international recognition. His latest album: FURTHER (Mobility Music MM20130), co-produced by him & Michael Cuscuna, features his present quartet of Azar Lawrence - saxophone, Benito Gonzalez - piano + Juini Booth - bass. Franklin was born and raised in Montreal, Canada

Connie Kay

Born: April 27, 1927

Connie Kay will forever be remembered as the legendary drummer/percussionist for the Modern Jazz Quartet. Self-taught on the drums, Kay played in the mid-'40s with Sir Charles Thompson, Miles Davis, and Cat Anderson. He was in Lester Young's quintet off and on during 1949-55, a time in which he also worked with Beryl Booker, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker and others. In February 1955, he joined the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), traveling the world with the band up until it called it "quits" in 1974. During that era he also was a guest on small-group sets with Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Heath and Paul Desmond with Jim Hall

Philly Joe Jones

Born: July 15, 1923

Philly Joe Jones was born with the name Joseph Rudolph Jones in the city of Philadelphia on July 15, 1923. His mother, a piano teacher taught him the basics in music. In his formative years he also studied the drums with drummers the likes of Cozy Cole and Charles Wilcoxon, receiving valuable advise from Art Blakey and a then younger Max Roach. He established himself as "Philly Joe" Jones, from the name of the city of his birth, to distinguish himself from the mainstay Count Basie’s drummer, Jo Jones. But just as Jo Jones established the rhythm section standard in the 30’s and 40’s, Philly Joe would do the same in the 50’s. He began playing with the rhythm and blues bands in the 40’s, establishing himself on the New York jazz scene

Jo Jones

Born: October 7, 1911

Papa Jo Jones was the drum anchor in the famous All American Rhythm Section by way of his work with Count Basie's band. Jones redefined the concept of a drummer. He lightened up on the four-beats-to-the-bar standard of bass drum playing, was possibly the first to use the ride cymbal as the main timekeeping accessory, and did all with a graceful and light touch. In the history of jazz, Jo Jones was one of the most outstanding drummers, full of sensitivity and style, in addition to an absolutely perfect drumming technique, he really knew, as very few other jazz musicians do, the history of his music. Jonathan Jones, was born 7 Oct

Elvin Jones

Born: September 9, 1927

Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer. He was born in Pontiac, Michigan, the youngest child in a family of ten. His father worked for General Motors. Two of Jones' brothers were also jazz musicians: Hank (piano), and Thad (trumpet/flugelhorn). Elvin began playing professionally in the 1940s, working with the Army Special Services program, Operation Happiness, and in 1949 had a short-lived gig in Detroit's Grand River Street club. Eventually he went on to play with artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Wardell Gray. In 1955, after a failed audition for the Benny Goodman band, he found work in New York, joining Charles Mingus's band, and releasing a record called J is for Jazz. In 1960, he joined with the classic John Coltrane Quartet, which also included bassist Jimmy Garrison and pianist McCoy Tyner. Jones and Coltrane often played extended duet passages, both giving and taking energy through their instruments

Osie Johnson

Born: January 11, 1923

He was born in Washington D. C. He left high school in 1941 to begin playing professionaly. After working with Sabby Lewis in Boston for six months (1942-3) he was a member of a navy band that included Clark Terry (1944-5). He then worked as a freelance in Chicago, and from 1951 to 1953 played for Earl Hines; during this period he also performed at Minton's Playhouse with Tony Scott's quartet. In 1954 he joined a trio led by the pianist Dorthy Donegan and toured Europe with Illinois Jaquet. From the mid-1950s Johnson worked principally as a session musician in television and recording studios in New York, while continuing to perform occasionally with groups led by groups led by Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, and Others

Ronald Shannon Jackson

Born: January 12, 1940

I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas in 1940. Both my parents were music lovers. My mother played piano and organ at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, and worked as a schoolteacher. My father owned the only black-owned local record store and jukebox business. On one side of my family is Curtis Ousley (who became famous as King Curtis). On the other is David “Fathead” Newman. I started playing drums in elementary school under the clarinetist John Carter, and in high school under Mr. Baxter, the same teacher who taught Ornette Coleman, Curtis Ousley, Dewey Redman, John Carter, Julius Hemphill, Charles Moffett, and James Jordan

Yoron Israel

Yoron Israel’s is one of the most sought out musicians of his generation. His latest recording “New Dreams” featuring his group “Trio Plus” continues to receive rave reviews. He has produced other fine works such as “This Moment,” “Visions – The Music of Stevie Wonder,” “Basic Training – Celebrating John Coltrane,” and “A Gift For You,” among others. All feature Yoron’s prolific drumming style, along with his refined compositions, and arrangements. As Jack Dejohnette quotes,“Yoron Israel is a drummer who has excellent taste. He has a sense of direction and a feeling of joy in his drumming, compositions, and arrangements. Yoron Israel is an important voice you should listen to.”

Sonny Igoe

Born: October 8, 1923

A fine big band drummer, Sonny Igoe was inspired by Gene Krupa, Kenny Clarke and Max Roach. He was originally self-taught and at age 16 won a Gene Krupa drumming contest. Igoe was in the Army during 1942-46 and then played with Tommy Reed (1946-47), Les Elagart (1947) and Ina Ray Hutton (1948). His most significant musical associations were with Benny Goodman (the bebop band of 1948-49), Woody Herman's Third Herd (1950-52) and Charlie Ventura (1953-55). Since then Igoe has spent most of his career as a studio musician and as a teacher. However he has remained active and, starting in the 1980's, he frequently co-led a big band with Dick Meldonian which recorded several albums for Progressive.

Owen Howard

Drummer/Composer Owen Howard (b. June 13, 1965 Edmonton, Canada) began studying drums at the age of 15. As a young up and coming drummer in Edmonton, Owen had many opportunities to perform with many fine Canadian and international artists passing through town. In 1988 Owen received a study grant from the Canada Council for the Arts which enabled him to move to New York to complete his BFA in Jazz from The New School. It was then that Owen began to make his mark in New York.

For the past eighteen years Owen has enjoyed much success in leading his own bands. He currently has four cd's to his credit. Pentagon and Sojourn, on the Koch Jazz label, Days Before and After (co-lead with Andrew Rathbun on Fresh Sound New Talent) and most recently, Time Cycles (Fresh Sound New Talent) released in Dec 2006.