Jack DeJohnette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack DeJohnette
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DeJohnette in 2015
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| Born | August 9, 1942 Chicago, Illinois U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 2025 (aged 83) Woodstock, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1961–2025 |
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Jack DeJohnette (born August 9, 1942, died October 26, 2025) was an amazing American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He was known for his incredible talent and for playing with many famous musicians like Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett. Jack DeJohnette was so good that he was added to the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2007. He also won two Grammy Awards for his music.
Contents
Jack's Musical Journey and Career
Jack's Early Musical Beginnings
Jack DeJohnette was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 9, 1942. He started learning music very young, playing the piano from age four. When he was 13, he switched to the drums. A local jazz drummer, Bobby Miller Jr., taught him how to play. Jack's uncle, Roy Wood Sr., who was a disc jockey, inspired him to pursue music.
In Chicago, Jack played many types of music, including R&B and avant-garde jazz. He even played with famous musicians like Sun Ra early in his career. In the early 1960s, he got to play with the legendary John Coltrane.
In 1966, Jack moved to New York City. There, he joined the Charles Lloyd Quartet. This band was important because it mixed rock and roll ideas with jazz. In this group, Jack met Keith Jarrett, a pianist he would work with for many years. Jack also played with other great artists like Bill Evans before joining Miles Davis.
Playing with Miles Davis
In 1969, Jack DeJohnette joined the band of the legendary jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis. Miles Davis noticed Jack's special ability to blend strong rock-and-roll rhythms with the creative freedom of jazz.
Jack was a key drummer on Miles Davis's most famous album. The musicians thought these recording sessions were very creative and new. Miles Davis would get new ideas as they played, making the music flow and change. Jack was seen as the leader of the rhythm section for this important project. He also played on many live albums that followed.
Jack continued to work with Miles Davis for three more years. During this time, he also collaborated with other talented musicians from Davis's band, like John McLaughlin and Chick Corea. He helped create albums such as Live-Evil and Jack Johnson. He left Davis's group in mid-1971 but returned for some concerts later that year.
Leading His Own Bands and Collaborations
Jack DeJohnette released his first album, The DeJohnette Complex, in 1968. On this album, he even played the melodica in addition to drums. He later released more albums like Have You Heard and Cosmic Chicken. He then started recording with ECM, a record label that allowed him to explore his unique drumming and compositions.
The freedom at ECM allowed Jack to start his own groups and play with many other musicians. He formed a group called Compost in 1972, and later the Gateway Trio with guitarist John Abercrombie and bassist Dave Holland. These musicians became important partners throughout his career.
He also formed groups like Directions and New Directions. One of his most successful groups was Special Edition, which helped many young horn players become known. Jack's music with Special Edition was praised for its mix of new, experimental sounds and traditional jazz.
During this period, Jack also joined Keith Jarrett's trio in 1983, playing classic jazz songs. This trio, with bassist Gary Peacock, played together for over 25 years. In the early 1980s, Jack also played on the album 80/81 with Pat Metheny and Michael Brecker. He performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival in 1981.
Later Years and Continued Music
Jack DeJohnette continued to make music into the 1990s and beyond. In 1990, he toured in a quartet consisting of himself, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, and his long-time collaborator Holland. In 1992, he released Music for the Fifth World, an album inspired by Native American studies. He also started playing the piano more often, even touring as a solo pianist in 1994. He reunited with his Gateway trio partners, Abercrombie and Holland. In 1990, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music.
In 2004, he was nominated for a Grammy award for his work with Keith Jarrett. He also started new projects, including the Latin Project and the Jack DeJohnette Quartet. He formed the Trio Beyond as a tribute to his friend, drummer Tony Williams. In 2005, Jack started his own record label, Golden Beams Productions. He released Music in the Key of Om, an electronic album for relaxation, which was nominated for a Grammy.
Jack continued to release albums and collaborate with artists like Bill Frisell and Bobby McFerrin. In 2009, he won a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Peace Time. In 2010, he formed the Jack DeJohnette Group.
In 2012, Jack released Sound Travels, featuring many guest musicians. The same year, he received an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, a high honor for jazz musicians.
Jack DeJohnette passed away on October 26, 2025, at the age of 83. He left behind a huge legacy of amazing music.
Jack DeJohnette's Unique Musical Style
Jack DeJohnette's drumming style was truly special. He combined elements of jazz, free jazz, world music, and R&B. This made him one of the most respected and sought-after drummers in music. He was known for not just keeping time, but for adding color and depth to the music.
Critics described his drumming as "beyond technique," meaning he played with such skill and creativity that it went beyond just following rules. Jack himself said he was an "abstract thinker" when he played solos. He liked to be "in the flow" of the music, connecting to a "cosmic library of ideas." When playing in Keith Jarrett's trio, he learned to play with great control and subtlety.
Even though he was famous as a drummer, Jack was also a trained pianist. He started piano lessons at age four and continued studying at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He played both piano and drums early in his career. Later, he returned to the piano, releasing solo piano albums and touring as a pianist. He also played piano, organ, and synthesizer on some of his albums.
He was inspired by many other great drummers, including Max Roach, Art Blakey, and Tony Williams.
Discography
Awards
- Fellow of United States Artists (2012)
- NEA Jazz Master (2012)
- Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Skyline, 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards
- Grammy Award for Best New Age Album, Peace Time, 51st Annual Grammy Awards
- Six additional Grammy Award nominations
See also
In Spanish: Jack DeJohnette para niños
