Jack DeJohnette, jazz drummer who played with Miles Davis on ‘Bitches Brew,’ dies at 83

by

Jack DeJohnette, a highly influential and adaptable jazz drummer, passed away on Sunday at the age of 83. Throughout his career, he collaborated with many jazz legends, including Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Charles Lloyd, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis. He famously played on Davis’s innovative 1970 album, “Bitches Brew,” which was pivotal in launching the jazz fusion movement.

During the late 1960s and early 70s, DeJohnette played drums with Miles Davis, alongside other prominent musicians like Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter. He infused Davis’s music with energetic psychedelic rock and funk, connecting it to the sounds of artists such as James Brown and Sly Stone. Beyond his work on the recently honored “Bitches Brew,” DeJohnette contributed to Davis’s albums “At Fillmore,” “Live-Evil,” and “On the Corner.” While “On the Corner” initially received negative reviews, it’s now celebrated as a groundbreaking jazz-funk recording.

Jack DeJohnette has won two Grammy Awards from six nominations. He was also honored as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2012.

×

Vernon Reid of Living Colour, who collaborated with Jack DeJohnette on his 1992 album “Music for the Fifth World,” praised DeJohnette as “the GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) on social media Monday. He emphasized that DeJohnette’s impact on jazz and modern improvisational music is immense and cannot be overstated.

Born in Chicago on August 9, 1942, Jack DeJohnette was inspired by his uncle, a jazz radio DJ, to begin playing piano as a child. He became involved with the innovative music scene in Chicago, playing with Sun Ra and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. In the mid-1960s, he moved to New York City, where he performed with Charles Lloyd before working with both Bill Evans and Miles Davis.

In a 1990 interview with The Times, he recalled his time playing in Davis’ band, saying, ‘We were so eager to perform.’ He explained that Miles helped them grow as musicians by giving them space to develop, challenging them with his music, and trusting them with both discipline and creative freedom. It was a mutual learning experience – Miles learned from the band, and they learned from him.

Following his time with Davis, DeJohnette kept working with pianist Keith Jarrett. Together, they created the long-lasting Standards Trio, featuring bassist Gary Peacock, and performed classic American songs. DeJohnette also led his own groups, New Directions and Special Edition, and collaborated with musicians like Ravi Coltrane and John Scofield.

In 2016, DeJohnette released “Return,” a solo piano album that followed up on his 1985 album, “The Jack DeJohnette Piano Album.” The New York Times reported he is survived by his wife, who also handled his career, and their two daughters.

Read More

2025-10-27 23:31