Paul Motian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Motian
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Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, and Bill Frisell in Rome
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Stephen Paul Motian |
| Born | March 25, 1931 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Died | November 22, 2011 (aged 80) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, bebop, hard bop, post-bop, avant-garde jazz, free improvisation |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, bandleader |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1954–2010 |
| Labels | ECM, Soul Note, JMT, Winter & Winter |
| Associated acts | Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Paul Bley, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Marc Johnson, Geri Allen, Enrico Pieranunzi, Masabumi Kikuchi, Chris Potter |
Stephen Paul Motian (born March 25, 1931 – died November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer. He was known for helping jazz drummers play more freely. This meant they didn't just keep time strictly.
Motian became famous in the late 1950s with the Bill Evans piano trio. Later, he played regularly with pianist Keith Jarrett for about ten years. Motian started leading his own bands in the early 1970s. His most famous groups included a trio with guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano. He also led the Electric Bebop Band, which played new versions of bebop songs.
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Paul Motian's Early Life and Career
Paul Motian was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. His family was of Armenian descent.
He first played guitar as a child. At age 12, he started playing the drums. He even toured New England with a swing band. During the Korean War, he served in the Navy.
Becoming a Professional Musician
Motian became a professional musician in 1954. He played briefly with pianist Thelonious Monk. He became well-known as the drummer for Bill Evans's trio from 1959 to 1964. In this group, he first played with bassist Scott LaFaro. Later, Chuck Israels joined as the bassist.
After the Bill Evans trio, he played with pianists Paul Bley (1963–64) and Keith Jarrett (1967–76). Motian also performed with many other musicians. These included Lennie Tristano, Warne Marsh, Lee Konitz, and Carla Bley. He even played with Arlo Guthrie at the Woodstock Festival in 1969.
Leading His Own Groups
Later in his career, Motian became an important composer and bandleader. He recorded for labels like ECM Records, Soul Note, and JMT.
From the early 1980s, he led a famous trio. This group featured guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano. Sometimes, bassists like Charlie Haden or Marc Johnson joined them. This trio played Motian's own songs. They also recorded tribute albums to jazz legends like Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans. They made a series of albums called Paul Motian on Broadway. These albums featured their unique versions of classic jazz standards.
Motian's first instrument was the guitar. He always liked the instrument. Many of his groups as a leader did not have a pianist. Instead, they often featured guitarists. His Electric Bebop Band, started in the 1990s, often had two or three electric guitars.
Final Recordings
In 2011, Motian played on several new recordings. These included Live at Birdland with Lee Konitz and Brad Mehldau. His last album as a bandleader was The Windmills of Your Mind. It featured Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan, and Petra Haden.
Paul Motian's Death
Paul Motian passed away on November 22, 2011. He was 80 years old. He died at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital. His death was due to problems from a blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome.
Music Collections and Tributes
Several collections of Paul Motian's music have been released. These include box sets from CAM Jazz and ECM Records. These sets gather many of his albums into one package.
After his death, new recordings featuring Motian were also released. These included Sunrise by the Masabumi Kikuchi Trio.
Many musicians have also recorded Motian's compositions as a tribute to him. These include Motian Sickness – The Music of Paul Motian and Drum Music: Music of Paul Motian (Solo Piano).
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Paul Motian para niños
