Jack DeJohnette Biography

Fast Facts

• Received a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Fellowship in 2012 due to his contributions to advancing jazz and inspiring younger generations
• Credits the inspiration for his musical career to his uncle, Roy I․ Wood Sr․, a Chicago disc jockey who later became a VP for the National Network of Black Broadcasters
• Early in his career, he played mostly R & B, hard bop and different forms of avante-garde
• Studied piano as early as age 4, and began playing professionaly at age 14
• Is a renowned jazz drummer, pianist and composer best known for influencing fusion-era artists such as Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis and John Scofield
• First gained public recognition when performing with crossover band the Charles Lloyd Quintent, where he first fellow legend Keith Jarrett
• Is known for combining elements of world music and free jazz with various genres, providing him and fellow performers with great leeway for improvisation
• Afer performing in a quartet led by Stan Getz, he began a two-year stint in groups led by Miles Davis, playing on legendary albums "On the Corner" and "Live-Evil․"
• First began to learn the drums to perform with his high school's concert band
• Performed as part of a trio with legendary pianist Bill Evans for their headline performance at the 1968 Montreux Jazz Festival, later producing the recording of that concert for an album