DeJohnette was born in Chicago, Illinois. Besides the drums, he studied the piano, which he plays on several recordings. He first became known as a member of Charles Lloyd's band, a band that Keith Jarrett also was a part of at that time. From 1969 to 1972 he played with Miles Davis and recorded many albums for ECM as both leader and sideman. Since the 1980s, he has been a member of what has become known as Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio. He is a dazzling improvisor and a clear stylistic successor of Roy Haynes, and the two greatest drummers of the 1960s, Tony Williams and Elvin Jones. He successfully incorporates elements of free jazz while maintaining the deep groove of an R&B drummer.
Stanley Clarke: A Lyrical Bass Player Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:43:00 -0500 When he was only 25, the word "legend" was already being used to describe Stanley Clarke. Now, he's a king of the acoustic and electric jazz worlds, having won every major award available to a bass player. Hear an interview with the jazz/fusion innovator. Sun Ra: 'Cosmic Swing' Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:00:00 -0500 Whenever he took the stage, audiences were guaranteed a musical spectacle. Half mystic, half visionary, the pianist and bandleader charted a relentlessly adventurous course through the jazz tradition. Leftover Candy: Top 5 Jazz Halloween Songs Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:03:00 -0500 From the lighthearted and fancy to the haunting and grotesque, NPR station WDUQ highlights some spooky Halloween music you can listen to all year long. Hear jazz vocalists conjure different ghosts out of classic tunes, while horn players coax the demons out of their instruments. Terence Blanchard: Musical Musings on 'God's Will' Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:17:00 -0500 The latest CD from New Orleans trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard is A Tale of God's Will, whose subtitle is "A Requiem for Katrina." Parts of the recording were heard in Spike Lee's HBO documentary When the Levees Broke. Red Norvo: 'Mr. Swing' Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:12:00 -0500 He was a sideman with the early stars of jazz, led one of the most admired bands on the swing era, and catalyzed the careers of musicians like Charles Mingus. All the while, Red Norvo was bringing the mallet instruments to jazz. Buddy Collette: 'Man of Many Parts' Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:00:00 -0500 Reedman Buddy Collette has spent most of his music career on the West Coast, out of the national spotlight. But it would be a mistake to overlook his distinguished career as a jazz educator, activist, composer and, of course, phenomenal multi-instrumentalist.