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Paul Motian

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Paul Motian was born in 1931 in Philadelphia, grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, and was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian descent. As a child he played guitar; at twelve he started on drums. During the Korean War he served in the navy, where he attended the navy's music school, and afterwards he studied at the Manhattan School of Music. In 1954 he became a professional musician and briefly played with Thelonious Monk. He became known as the drummer in the trio of the pianist Bill Evans, from 1959 to 1964, first with the bassist Scott LaFaro and later with Chuck Israels.

Music and breakthrough

Afterwards he played with Paul Bley and, from 1967 to 1976, with Keith Jarrett. In 1968 and 1969 he briefly played with Arlo Guthrie, including at Woodstock. From the early 1970s he became a bandleader and composer. His debut as a leader was Conception Vessel (1973) for ECM. From the early 1980s he led a trio with the guitarist Bill Frisell and the saxophonist Joe Lovano. That trio also recorded albums of the work of Monk and Evans and the series Paul Motian on Broadway. His Electric Bebop Band, formed in the early 1990s, played bebop standards with young musicians and several electric guitars.

Influence

Motian played an important part in freeing drummers from their task of keeping strict time. In his own groups there was usually no pianist but plenty of guitar. He died in 2011.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Motian in the Bill Evans trio. Notice how the drums do not merely keep the beat, but also join in with what the piano and bass are doing.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsThe new piano trio