Paul Motian
Encyclopedia
Stephen Paul Motian was an American
jazz drummer
, percussionist and composer
of Armenian extraction.
He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans
, and later led several groups. Motian played an important role in freeing the drummer from strict time-keeping duties.
, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island
. After playing guitar in his childhood, Motian began playing the drums at age 12, eventually touring New England
in a swing band. During the Korean War
he joined the Navy
.
Motian became a professional musician in 1954, and briefly played with pianist Thelonious Monk
. He became well known as the drummer in pianist Bill Evans
's trio (1959–64), initially alongside bassist Scott LaFaro
and later Chuck Israels
.
Subsequently he played with pianists Paul Bley
(1963-4) and Keith Jarrett
(1967–76). Other musicians with whom Motian performed and/or recorded in the early period of his career included Lennie Tristano
, Warne Marsh
,Lee Konitz
, Joe Castro
, Arlo Guthrie
(Motian performed briefly with Guthrie in 1968-69, and performed with the singer at Woodstock
), Carla Bley
, Charlie Haden
, and Don Cherry
. Motian subsequently worked with musicians such as Marilyn Crispell
, Bill Frisell
, Leni Stern
, Joe Lovano
, Alan Pasqua
, Wolfgang Muthspiel
, Bill McHenry, Stephane Oliva, Frank Kimbrough
, and many more.
Motian was an important composer and group leader, recording initially for ECM Records
in the 1970s and early 1980s and subsequently for Soul Note Records, JMT Records
, and Winter & Winter
Records, before returning to ECM in 2005. From the early 1980s he led a trio featuring guitarist
Bill Frisell
and saxophonist Joe Lovano
, occasionally joined by bassist
s Ed Schuller
, Charlie Haden
or Marc Johnson, and other musicians, including Jim Pepper
, Lee Konitz
, Dewey Redman
and Geri Allen
. In addition to playing Motian's compositions, the group has recorded tributes to Thelonious Monk
and Bill Evans
, and a series of Paul Motian on Broadway albums, featuring original interpretations of jazz standards.
Despite his important associations with pianists, Motian's work as a leader since the 1970s rarely included a pianist in his ensembles and relied heavily on guitarists. Motian's first instrument was the guitar, and he appears to have retained an affinity for the instrument: in addition to his groups with Frisell, his first two solo albums on ECM featured Sam Brown
, and his Electric Bebop Band featured two and occasionally three electric guitars. The group was founded in the early 1990s, and featured a variety of young guitar and saxophone players, in addition to electric bass and Motian's drums, including saxophonists Joshua Redman
, Chris Potter
, Chris Cheek
, and Tony Malaby
, and guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel
, Brad Shepik, Wolfgang Muthspiel
, Steve Cardenas, Ben Monder
, and Jakob Bro
.
Motian died on November 22nd, 2011 at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital
of complications from myelodysplasic syndrome
.
In 2011 alone, Motian featured on six new recordings; Live At Birdland (with Lee Konitz
, Charlie Haden
and Brad Mehldau
), Consort In Motion (Samuel Blaser), No Comment (Augusto Pirodda, also featuring Gary Peacock
), Further Explorations (with Chick Corea
and Eddie Gomez) and Ghosts of The Sun (Bill McHenry). The latter was, incidentally, released on the day of Motian's death. His final album as bandleader was The Windmills of Your Mind, featuring vocal performances by Petra Haden.
With Samuel Blaser
With Paul Bley
With Marilyn Crispell
With Chick Corea
and Eddie Gomez
With Bill Evans
With Pierre Favre
With Bill Frisell
With Charlie Haden
With Keith Jarrett
With Frank Kimbrough
With Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden & Brad Mehldau
With Russ Lossing
With Joe Lovano
With Bill McHenry
With Augusto Pirodda
With Enrico Rava
With Steve Swallow, Gil Goldstein and Pietro Tonolo
With Jacob Sacks, Eivind Opsvik and Mat Maneri
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz drummer
Jazz drumming
Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz-rock fusion and 1980s-era latin jazz...
, percussionist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Armenian extraction.
He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, and later led several groups. Motian played an important role in freeing the drummer from strict time-keeping duties.
Biography
Motian was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. After playing guitar in his childhood, Motian began playing the drums at age 12, eventually touring New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in a swing band. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he joined the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
.
Motian became a professional musician in 1954, and briefly played with pianist Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
. He became well known as the drummer in pianist Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
's trio (1959–64), initially alongside bassist Scott LaFaro
Scott LaFaro
Rocco Scott LaFaro was an influential jazz bassist, perhaps best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio.-Biography:...
and later Chuck Israels
Chuck Israels
Charles H. "Chuck" Israels is a composer, arranger, and bassist who is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. He has also worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, J. J. Johnson, John Coltrane and many others.-Biography:Chuck Israels was...
.
Subsequently he played with pianists Paul Bley
Paul Bley
Paul Bley, CM is a pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing.-Biography:...
(1963-4) and Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
(1967–76). Other musicians with whom Motian performed and/or recorded in the early period of his career included Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano
Leonard Joseph Tristano was a jazz pianist, composer and teacher of jazz improvisation. He performed in the cool jazz, bebop, post bop and avant-garde jazz genres. He remains a somewhat overlooked figure in jazz history, but his enormous originality and dazzling work as an improviser have long...
, Warne Marsh
Warne Marsh
Warne Marion Marsh was an American tenor saxophonist born in Los Angeles.-Biography:Marsh came from an affluent background: his father was the cinematographer Oliver T. Marsh , and his mother Elizabeth was a violinist...
,Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
, Joe Castro
Joe Castro (musician)
Joe Castro was an American bebop jazz pianist, based primarily on the West Coast of the United States.-Biography:...
, Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
(Motian performed briefly with Guthrie in 1968-69, and performed with the singer at Woodstock
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
), Carla Bley
Carla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
, and Don Cherry
Don Cherry (jazz)
Donald Eugene Cherry was an innovative African-American jazz cornetist whose career began with a long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He went on to live in many parts of the world and work with a wide variety of musicians.-Biography:Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and...
. Motian subsequently worked with musicians such as Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell is an American jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Crispell studied classical piano and composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. She has been a resident of Woodstock, NY since 1977 when she came to study and teach at Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio...
, Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
, Leni Stern
Leni Stern
Leni Stern is an electric guitarist, and singer. She was interested in music from an early age, beginning piano studies at the age of six and taking on the guitar age of eleven...
, Joe Lovano
Joe Lovano
Joseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
, Alan Pasqua
Alan Pasqua
Alan Pasqua is a jazz pianist, educator and composer who co-composed the CBS Evening News theme. He also has had an extensive career in pop and rock music, most notably as a founding member, keyboardist and songwriter of the 80s hard rock band, Giant. He studied at Indiana University and the New...
, Wolfgang Muthspiel
Wolfgang Muthspiel
Wolfgang Muthspiel is an Austrian guitarist and composer most associated with jazz and brother of the trombonist and pianist Christian Muthspiel....
, Bill McHenry, Stephane Oliva, Frank Kimbrough
Frank Kimbrough
Frank Kimbrough is a post-bop jazz pianist born and raised in North Carolina. He did some work at Chapel Hill before moving to Washington, D. C. in 1980....
, and many more.
Motian was an important composer and group leader, recording initially for ECM Records
ECM (record label)
ECM is a record label founded in Munich, Germany, in 1969 by Manfred Eicher. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a wide variety of recordings, and ECM's artists often refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres...
in the 1970s and early 1980s and subsequently for Soul Note Records, JMT Records
JMT Records
JMT Records was a record label that specialised in contemporary jazz. It was run by Stefan Winter.JMT recorded artists included Steve Coleman, Cassandra Wilson, Greg Osby, and Django Bates. The entire JMT catalogue is being re-released by Winter & Winter, Stefan Winter's new label....
, and Winter & Winter
Winter & Winter
Winter & Winter is a Munich-based record label that specializes in jazz and improvised music. Stefan Winter, also the founder of the now-defunct JMT Records, is the founder and executive producer of Winter & Winter...
Records, before returning to ECM in 2005. From the early 1980s he led a trio featuring guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
and saxophonist Joe Lovano
Joe Lovano
Joseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
, occasionally joined by bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
s Ed Schuller
Ed Schuller
Edwin G. Schuller is an American jazz bassist and composer.Schuller was born in New York City; his father is Gunther Schuller and his younger brother is drummer George Schuller. Schuller learned clarinet and guitar as a child and switched to bass at age 15; that same year he had his first...
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
or Marc Johnson, and other musicians, including Jim Pepper
Jim Pepper
Jim Pepper was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and singer of Native American ancestry.-Biography:...
, Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
, Dewey Redman
Dewey Redman
Dewey Redman was an American jazz saxophonist, known for performing free jazz as a bandleader, and with Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett....
and Geri Allen
Geri Allen
Geri Allen is an American composer/pianist educator jazz pianist, raised in Detroit, Michigan, and educated in the Detroit Public Schools. Allen has worked with many of the greats of modern music, including Ornette Coleman, Ron Carter, Ravi Coltrane, Tony Williams, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette,...
. In addition to playing Motian's compositions, the group has recorded tributes to Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
and Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, and a series of Paul Motian on Broadway albums, featuring original interpretations of jazz standards.
Despite his important associations with pianists, Motian's work as a leader since the 1970s rarely included a pianist in his ensembles and relied heavily on guitarists. Motian's first instrument was the guitar, and he appears to have retained an affinity for the instrument: in addition to his groups with Frisell, his first two solo albums on ECM featured Sam Brown
Sam Brown (guitarist)
-History:Sam T. Brown's playing style was unusual in that he performed in a generally jazz-rock format, while performing in Keith Jarrett's ensembles that sometimes veered close to a free jazz style...
, and his Electric Bebop Band featured two and occasionally three electric guitars. The group was founded in the early 1990s, and featured a variety of young guitar and saxophone players, in addition to electric bass and Motian's drums, including saxophonists Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman
Joshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...
, Chris Potter
Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)
Chris Potter is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Potter spent most of his childhood in Columbia, South Carolina where his mother taught psychology at the University of South Carolina...
, Chris Cheek
Chris Cheek
Chris Cheek is an American jazz saxophonist. He has worked as a sideman on more than sixty albums in his career, and has been bandleader of four critically acclaimed solo albums.-Biography:Cheek was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri...
, and Tony Malaby
Tony Malaby
Tony Malaby is a post-bop jazz tenor saxophonist. Malaby moved to New York City in 1995 and has played with several notable jazz groups, including Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band, Mark Helias’s Open Loose, Fred Hersch’s Trio + 2 and Walt Whitman...
, and guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel is an American jazz guitarist and keyboardist who came to prominence in the 1990s.-Biography:He attended the Berklee School of Music for two and a half years before leaving in his junior year to tour with Gary Burton, the dean of the school at the time...
, Brad Shepik, Wolfgang Muthspiel
Wolfgang Muthspiel
Wolfgang Muthspiel is an Austrian guitarist and composer most associated with jazz and brother of the trombonist and pianist Christian Muthspiel....
, Steve Cardenas, Ben Monder
Ben Monder
-Biography:Monder attended the University of Miami. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians including Lee Konitz, Toots Thielmans, Paul Motian and Maria Schneider....
, and Jakob Bro
Jakob Bro
Jakob Bro is a Danish jazz guitarist. Bro has never received any musical training besides short periods spent at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, the Berklee College of Music in Boston and New School University in New York...
.
Motian died on November 22nd, 2011 at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
of complications from myelodysplasic syndrome
Myelodysplastic syndrome
The myelodysplastic syndromes are a diverse collection of hematological medical conditions that involve ineffective production of the myeloid class of blood cells....
.
In 2011 alone, Motian featured on six new recordings; Live At Birdland (with Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
and Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau
Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...
), Consort In Motion (Samuel Blaser), No Comment (Augusto Pirodda, also featuring Gary Peacock
Gary Peacock
Gary Peacock is an American jazz double-bassist.-Biography:After military service in Germany, in the early sixties he worked on the west coast with Barney Kessel, Bud Shank, Paul Bley and Art Pepper, then moved to New York. He worked there with Bley, the Bill Evans trio , and Albert Ayler's trio...
), Further Explorations (with Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
and Eddie Gomez) and Ghosts of The Sun (Bill McHenry). The latter was, incidentally, released on the day of Motian's death. His final album as bandleader was The Windmills of Your Mind, featuring vocal performances by Petra Haden.
As leader
- Conception VesselConception VesselConception Vessel is the debut album by Paul Motian and was released on the ECM label. It was released in 1972 and features performances by Motian with Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Leroy Jenkins, Sam Brown and Becky Friend.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1972) - TributeTribute (Paul Motian album)Tribute is the second album by Paul Motian to be released on the ECM label. It was released in 1974 and features performances by Motian with Carlos Ward, Charlie Haden, Paul Metzke, and Sam Brown.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1974) - DanceDance (Paul Motian album)Dance is the third album by Paul Motian to be released on the ECM label. It was released in 1977 and features performances by Motian with David Izenzon and Charles Brackeen.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1977) - Le VoyageLe VoyageLe Voyage is the fourth album by Paul Motian to be released on the ECM label. It was released in 1979 and features performances by Motian with Jean-François Jenny Clark and Charles Brackeen.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1979) - PsalmPsalm (Paul Motian album)Psalm is the fifth album by Paul Motian to be released on the ECM label. It was released in 1982 and features the first recordings by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano, along with Ed Schuller and Billy Drewes.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1982) - The Story of MaryamThe Story of MaryamThe Story of Maryam is the first album by Paul Motian to be released on the Italian Soul Note label. It was released in 1984 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano, along with Ed Schuller and Jim Pepper.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1984) - Jack of ClubsJack of Clubs (album)Jack of Clubs is the second album by Paul Motian to be released on the Italian Soul Note label. It was released in 1985 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano, along with Ed Schuller and Jim Pepper.- Reception :...
(Soul Note, 1985) - It Should've Happened a Long Time AgoIt Should've Happened a Long Time AgoIt Should've Happened a Long Time Ago is an album by Paul Motian on the ECM label. It was released in 1985 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano and is the first album to feature the trio following three albums where they formed the basis of a quintet; Jack of Clubs ,...
(ECM, 1985) - MisteriosoMisterioso (Paul Motian album)Misterioso is the third album by Paul Motian on the Italian Soul Note label. It was released in 1987 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano, along with Ed Schuller and Jim Pepper.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1986) - One Time OutOne Time OutOne Time Out is the fifth album by Paul Motian on the Italian Soul Note label. It was released in 1989 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1987) - Monk in MotianMonk in MotianMonk in Motian is the first album by Paul Motian to be released on the German JMT label. It was released in 1988 and features ten compositions by Thelonious Monk performed by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano. Geri Allen and Dewey Redman make guest appearances...
(JMT, 1988) - On Broadway Volume 1On Broadway Volume 1On Broadway Volume 1 is the second album by Paul Motian to be released on the German JMT label. It was released in 1989 and features performances of Broadway show tunes by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano...
(JMT, 1989) - Bill EvansBill Evans (album)Bill Evans is an album by Paul Motian on the German JMT label. It was released in 1990 and features nine compositions by Motian's former employer Bill Evans performed by Motian with Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and Marc Johnson...
(JMT, 1990) - On Broadway Volume 2On Broadway Volume 2On Broadway Volume 2 is the fourth album by Paul Motian to be released on the German JMT label. It was released in 1989 and features performances of Broadway show tunes by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano...
(JMT, 1990) - Motian in TokyoMotian in TokyoMotian in Tokyo is a live album by Paul Motian released on the German JMT label released in 1992. The album features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano and was rereleased on the Winter & Winter label in 2003.-Reception:...
(JMT, 1991) - On Broadway Volume 3On Broadway Volume 3On Broadway Volume 3 is the third album of Broadway show tunes by Paul Motian to be released on the German JMT label. Recorded in 1991, it was released in 1993 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz and Joe Lovano...
(JMT, 1991) - Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop BandPaul Motian and the Electric Bebop BandPaul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band is an album of bebop jazz standards by Paul Motian originally released on the German JMT label. Recorded in 1992, it was released in 1993 and features performances by Motian with Joshua Redman, Brad Schoeppach, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Stomu Takeishi...
(JMT, 1992) - TrioismTrioismTrioism is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian be released on the German JMT label. Recorded in 1993, it was first released in 1994 and features performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano with Dewey Redman added on one track...
(JMT, 1993) - Reincarnation of a Love Bird (JMT, 1994)
- Sound of LoveSound of LoveSound of Love is a live album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded at the Village Vanguard in 1995 and on the Winter & Winter label in 1997.-Reception:The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested Core Collection....
(Winter & Winter, 1995 [1997]) - At the Village Vanguard (JMT, 1995)
- Flight of the Blue JayFlight of the Blue JayFlight of the Blue Jay is an album by Paul Motian released on the German Winter & Winter label in 1997 and featuring performances of bebop jazz standards by Motian with the Electric Bebop Band...
(Winter & Winter, 1998) - 2000 + One2000 + One2000 + One is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian released on the German Winter & Winter label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4 stars.-Track listing:# "From Time to Time" - 4:50# "Dance" - 4:52# "One in Three" - 4:50...
(Winter & Winter, 1997 [1999]) - Play Monk and PowellPlay Monk and PowellPlay Monk and Powell is an album by Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band released on the German Winter & Winter label in 1999 and featuring performances of tunes by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell...
(Winter & Winter, 1998 [1999]) - EuropeEurope (Paul Motian album)Europe is an album by Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2000. The album is the group's fifth release following Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band , Reincarnation of a Love Bird , Flight of the Blue Jay and Play Monk and Powell...
(Winter & Winter, 2000 [2001]) - Holiday for StringsHoliday for Strings (Paul Motian album)Holiday for Strings is an album by Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2002. The album is the group's sixth release.-Reception:...
(Winter & Winter, 2001 [2002]) - I Have the Room Above HerI Have the Room Above HerI Have the Room Above Her is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2004 released on the ECM label and featuring performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano...
(ECM, 2004 [2005]) - Garden of EdenGarden of Eden (album)Garden of Eden is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2004 and released on the ECM label in 2005.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "Motian has been on a creative and compositional tear, and has been since the mid-'80s...
(ECM, 2004 [2007]) - On Broadway Vol. 4 or The Paradox of ContinuityOn Broadway Vol. 4 or The Paradox of ContinuityOn Broadway Vol. 4 or The Paradox of Continuity is an album by Paul Motian and the Trio 2000 + One released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2002...
(Winter & Winter, 2005) - Time and Time AgainTime and Time Again (album)Time and Time Again is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2006 released on the ECM label and featuring performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2006) - Live at the Village VanguardLive at the Village Vanguard (Paul Motian album)Live at the Village Vanguard is a live album by Paul Motian's Trio 2000 + Two recorded at the Village Vanguard and released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2007.-Reception:...
(Winter & Winter, 2006 [2007]) - Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. IILive at the Village Vanguard Vol. IILive at the Village Vanguard Vol. II is a live album by Paul Motian's Trio 2000 + Two recorded at the Village Vanguard and released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2008.-Reception:...
(Winter & Winter, 2006 [2008]) - Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. III (Winter & Winter, 2006 [2010])
- On Broadway Volume 5On Broadway Volume 5On Broadway Volume 5 is an album by Paul Motian and the Trio 2000 + Two released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2009. The album follows on from the first four volumes of Motian's On Broadway Series featuring features performances of Broadway show tunes.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Alex...
(Winter & Winter, 2009) - Lost In A DreamLost in a DreamLost in a Dream is the fourth album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1974. It was the second album to feature Mike Murphy on vocals. The title track was written by Murphy and future bassist Bruce Hall, who would join the band in 1978. The title track was featured on the compilation A Decade of...
(ECM, March 2010) - Windmills of Your Mind (Winter & Winter, August 2011)
As sideman
With Michael Adkins- Rotator (HatHut, 2008)
With Samuel Blaser
- Consort In Motion (Kind Of Blue, 2011)
With Paul Bley
Paul Bley
Paul Bley, CM is a pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing.-Biography:...
- Paul Bley with Gary PeacockPaul Bley with Gary PeacockPaul Bley with Gary Peacock is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley with American bassist Gary Peacock recorded in 1964 and 1968 and released on the ECM label in 1970.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1970) - FragmentsFragments (album)Fragments is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1986 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4 stars stating "this 1986 session ranks high among his many solo and group outings for the label.....
(ECM, 1986) - NotesNotes (album)Notes is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley and American drummer Paul Motian recorded in 1987 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1987) - The Paul Bley QuartetThe Paul Bley QuartetThe Paul Bley Quartet is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1987 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "While it's easy to argue that, with Manfred Eicher's icy, crystalline production, this was a stock date...
(ECM, 1987) - MemoirsMemoirs (album)Memoirs is an album by pianist Paul Bley, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 1990 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1990) with Charlie HadenCharlie HadenCharles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman... - Zen Palace Transheart with Steve Swallow
- Not Two, Not OneNot Two, Not OneNot Two, Not One is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley with American bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 1998 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1998) with Gary Peacock
With Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell is an American jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Crispell studied classical piano and composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. She has been a resident of Woodstock, NY since 1977 when she came to study and teach at Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio...
- Nothing Ever Was, Anyway: Music of Annette PeacockNothing Ever Was, Anyway: Music of Annette PeacockNothing Ever Was, Anyway: Music of Annette Peacock is an album by pianist Marilyn Crispell, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 1996 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1997) - AmaryllisAmaryllis (album)Amaryllis is an album by pianist Marilyn Crispell, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2000 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2000) - StorytellerStoryteller (Marilyn Crispell album)Storyteller is an album by pianist Marilyn Crispell, bassist Mark Helias, and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2003 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2003)
With Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
and Eddie Gomez
Eddie Gomez
Edgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
- Further Explorations (Universal Classics and Jazz Japan, 2011)
With Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
- New Jazz ConceptionsNew Jazz ConceptionsNew Jazz Conceptions is the debut album as leader by jazz musician Bill Evans, released in 1956 on Riverside Records.-History:Producer Orrin Keepnews of Riverside Records first determined to record Evans after hearing a tape of Evans' playing...
(Riverside, 1957) - Portrait in JazzPortrait in JazzPortrait in Jazz is an album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans, released in 1960.-History:Eight months after his successful collaboration with Miles Davis on the album Kind of Blue, Evans recorded Portrait in Jazz with a new group that helped change the direction of modern jazz.Most noticeably,...
(Riverside, 1959) - ExplorationsExplorations (album)Explorations is an album by jazz musician Bill Evans originally released on Riverside label in 1961. The album won the Billboard Jazz Critics Best Piano LP poll for 1961.-History:...
(Riverside, 1961) - Sunday at the Village VanguardSunday at the Village VanguardSunday at the Village Vanguard is a 1961 album by jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans. The album is routinely ranked as one of the best live jazz recordings of all time.-History:...
(Riverside, 1961) - Waltz for Debby (Riverside, 1961)
- How My Heart Sings!How My Heart Sings!How My Heart Sings! is a 1962 album by jazz musician Bill Evans, recorded at the same time as Moon Beams. It was reissued in 1992 with one bonus track.-Reception:...
(Riverside, 1962) - Moon BeamsMoon BeamsMoon Beams is a 1962 album by jazz musician Bill Evans, and the first trio album recorded by Evans after the death of Scott LaFaro. With Chuck Israels on bass taking the place of LaFaro, Evans recorded several songs during these May and June 1962 sessions. Moon Beams contains a collection of...
(Riverside, 1962) - Nirvana with Herbie MannHerbie MannHerbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
(Atlantic, 1962) - Trio '64Trio '64Trio '64 is an album by by American jazz musician Bill Evans, released in 1964.All the tracks can be found on the 18-volume The Complete Bill Evans on Verve box set.-Reception:...
(Verve, 1963)
With Pierre Favre
Pierre Favre (musician)
Pierre Favre is a Swiss jazz drummer and percussionist born in Le Locle, Switzerland, perhaps most noteworthy for his work with Irene Schweizer....
- Singing DrumsSinging DrumsSinging Drums is an album by percussionist Pierre Favre recorded in 1984 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G...
(ECM, 1984)
With Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
- RamblerRambler (album)Rambler is the second album by Bill Frisell to be released on the ECM label. It was released in 1985 and features performances by Frisell, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Stewart, Jerome Harris and Paul Motian.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1985) - Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul MotianBill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul MotianBill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian is the nineteenth album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2006 and features performances by Frisell, Ron Carter and Paul Motian recorded on February 14-15, 2005. An E.P...
(Nonesuch, 2006)
With Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
- Liberation Music Orchestra (Impulse! 1969)
- Ballad of the Fallen (ECM, 1982)
- EtudesEtudes (album)Etudes is an album by the American jazz bassist Charlie Haden recorded in 1987 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "The communication between these three masterful players is quite impressive".-Track listing:#...
(Soul Note, 1987) - Dream KeeperDream KeeperDream Keeper is a jazz album by bassist Charlie Haden, recorded in 1990 and released by Blue Note Records. The album was nominated for a Grammy award and was voted "Jazz album of the year" in Down Beat magazine's 1991 critic's poll...
(Blue Note, 1989) - Segments (1987) with Geri Allen & Charlie Haden
- Live at the Village Vanguard with Geri Allen & Charlie Haden
- The Montreal Tapes with Geri Allen & Charlie Haden
- The Montreal Tapes with Paul Bley & Charlie Haden
- The Montreal Tapes with Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Charlie Haden
- The Montreal Tapes with Liberation Music Orchestra
With Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
- Life Between The Exit SignsLife between the Exit SignsLife Between the Exit Signs is a jazz album by pianist Keith Jarrett. It was recorded on May 4, 1967 at Atlantic Recording Studios, in New York City. It was released April 1, 1968, under the record label Vortex, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records...
(1967) - Somewhere BeforeSomewhere BeforeSomewhere Before is a live album by pianist Keith Jarrett recorded on August 30 & 31, 1968 at Shelly's Manne-Hole in Hollywood, California. It features a live performance by Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.-Reception:...
(1969) - ExpectationsExpectations (Keith Jarrett album)Expectations is a 1971 recording by pianist, saxophonist and composer Keith Jarrett, released on Columbia Records. The recording features, in addition to Jarrett, tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden, drummer Paul Motian, guitarist Sam Brown, percussionist Airto Moreira, and a...
(1972) - The Mourning of a StarThe Mourning of a StarThe Mourning of a Star is an album by pianist Keith Jarrett featuring performances by Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.-Reception:...
(1973) - Fort YawuhFort YawuhFort Yawuh is the first album released on the Impulse Records label by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Originally released in 1973, it features a live performance recorded at the Village Vanguard on February 24, 1973, by Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, and Danny...
(1973) - Treasure IslandTreasure Island (album)Treasure Island is the second album on the Impulse label by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Originally released in 1974, it features performances by Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, and Danny Johnson....
(1974) - BackhandBackhand (album)Back Hand is the fourth album on the Impulse label by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Originally released in 1974 it features performances by Jarrett's 'American Quartet' which included Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian with Guilherme Franco added on percussion.Aside from its appearance in...
(1974) - Death and the FlowerDeath and the FlowerDeath and the Flower is the third album on the Impulse label by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Originally released in 1974 it features performances by Jarrett's 'American Quartet' which included Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian with Guilherme Franco added on percussion.-Reception:The...
(1974) - El Juicio (The Judgement)El Juicio (The Judgement)El Juicio is an album by pianist Keith Jarrett featuring performances by Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Gypsy Moth" - 8:18...
(1975) - Shades (1975)
- The Survivors' SuiteThe Survivors' SuiteThe Survivors' Suite is an album by American pianist Keith Jarrett which was released on the ECM label in 1976. It features performances by Jarrett's 'American Quartet' which included Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian.-Reception:...
(1976) - Bop-BeBop-BeBop-Be is the final album on the Impulse label by jazz pianist Keith Jarrett's 'American Quartet'. Originally released in 1977 it features performances by Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian...
(1976) - Eyes of the HeartEyes of the heartEyes of The Heart is a jazz album by American pianist Keith Jarrett released in 1979 by the ECM record label. The personnel on the album is the "American Quartet", made up of Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. It was recorded at the Theater am Kornmarkt, Bregenz in Austria in...
(1979) - At the Deer Head InnAt the Deer Head InnAt the Deer Head Inn is a live album by American pianist Keith Jarrett's with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian recorded in concert in September 1992 in Delaware Water Gap, Pa. and released on the ECM label...
(1992)
With Frank Kimbrough
Frank Kimbrough
Frank Kimbrough is a post-bop jazz pianist born and raised in North Carolina. He did some work at Chapel Hill before moving to Washington, D. C. in 1980....
- Play (Palmetto Records, 2006)
With Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden & Brad Mehldau
- Live At Birdland (ECM, 2011)
With Russ Lossing
- Dreamer (Double Time Records, 2000)
- As It Grows (Hat Hut Records, 2004)
With Joe Lovano
Joe Lovano
Joseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
- Village RhythmVillage RhythmVillage Rhythm is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano recorded in 1988 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1988)
With Bill McHenry
- Featuring Paul Motian Fresh Sound New Talent, 2002)
- Roses (Sunny Side Records, 2007)
- Ghosts of The Sun (Sunny Side Records, 2011)
With Augusto Pirodda
- No Comment (Jazzwerkstatt, 2011)
With Enrico Rava
Enrico Rava
Enrico Rava , is a prolific jazz trumpeter and arguably one of the best known Italian jazz musicians. He originally played trombone, changing to the trumpet after hearing Miles Davis. His first commercial work was as a member of Gato Barbieri's Italian quintet in the mid-1960s; in the late 1960s...
- TatiTati (album)Tati is an album by Italian jazz trumpeter and composer Enrico Rava recorded in 2004 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G...
(ECM, 2004) - New York DaysNew York DaysNew York Days is an album by Italian jazz trumpeter and composer Enrico Rava recorded in 2008 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3½ stars.-Track listing:# "Lulù" - 9:33...
(ECM, 2008)
With Steve Swallow, Gil Goldstein and Pietro Tonolo
- Your Songs: The Music of Elton John ObliqSoundObliqSoundObliqSound is an independent record label based in New York City, Paris and Hamburg.It provides a home for artists around the globe interested in creating music that crosses the boundaries of traditional music labeling. Dedicated to both an instrumental and vocal series, ObliqSound endeavors to...
With Jacob Sacks, Eivind Opsvik and Mat Maneri
- Two Miles A Day Yeah Yeah RecordsYeah Yeah RecordsYeah Yeah Records is a Brooklyn-based, NYC-centric record label specializing in avant garde jazz and improvised music.Yeah Yeah Records was founded in 2002. Artists appearing on the label include Paul Motian, Mat Maneri, Jacob Sacks, Yoon Sun Choi, Eivind Opsvik, Dan Weiss, and others....