Elvin Jones

American jazz drummer (1927–2004)

1927 — 2004

Quick Facts

Profession

American jazz drummer (1927–2004)

Born

September 9, 1927

Died

2004 (age ~77)

Name Origin

English

Timeline

jazz drummer, recording artist

United StatesBorn in PontiacDied in Englewood

1927

Born in Pontiac (1927-09-09)

2004

Died in Englewood

About

Elvin Ray Jones was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such albums as My Favorite Things, A Love Supreme, Ascension and Live at Birdland. After 1966, Jones led his own trio, and later larger groups under the name The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. His brothers Hank and Thad were also celebrated jazz musicians with whom he occasionally recorded. Elvin was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1995. In his The History of Jazz, jazz historian and critic Ted Gioia calls Jones "one of the most influential drummers in the history of jazz". He was also ranked at Number 23 on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time".