Paul Motian
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Stephen Paul Motian (born 25 March 1931 in Providence, Rhode Island), is a American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction. He is one of the most influential modern drummers, having played an important role in freeing the drummer from strict time-keeping duties. His surname is Armenian, pronounced "Moe-tee-un," but is usually mispronounced like "motion".
Motian has been a professional musician since 1954, but he became well known as the drummer in pianist Bill Evans's trio (1959-64), initially with Scott LaFaro. Subsequently he has played with pianists Paul Bley (1963-4) and Keith Jarrett (1967-76).
More recently, he has also become an important composer and band-leader, recording for JMT Records and then Winter & Winter Records. Since the early 1980s he has led a trio featuring guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano, occasionally joined by bassists 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 standard tunes.
Despite his important associations with pianists, Motian's work as a leader since the 1970s has been noteworthy for rarely including piano in his ensembles and relying heavily on guitar. Motian's first instrument was the guitar, and he seems to have conserved an affinity for the instrument: in addition to his groups with Frisell, his first two solo albums on ECM featured Sam Brown, and he leads the Electric Bebop Band, featuring two electric guitars. The group was founded in the early 1990s, and has featured a variety of young guitar and saxophone players, in addition to electric bass and Motian's drums: Joshua Redman was the first player to occupy the saxophone chair. Steve Swallow was the bass player at one time. The group has subsequently expanded to feature two saxophonists; Chris Potter and Chris Cheek have both served in the EBBB.
Selected Discography
As a leader- Conception Vessel (1972)
- Tribute (1974)
- Dance (1977)
- Le Voyage (1979)
- 2000 + One (1999)
- Psalm (1981)
- Jack of Clubs (1983)
- The Story of Maryam (1983)
- It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (1984)
- Misterioso (1985)
- One Time Out (1987)
- Monk in Motian (1988)
- On Broadway, Volumes 1-3 (1988-1993)
- Bill Evans (1990)
- Motian in Tokio (1991)
- Trioism (1993)
- Live at the Village Vanguard (1995)
- Sound of Love (1995)
- I Have the Room Above Her (2004)
- Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band (1992)
- Reincarnation of a Lovebird (1994)
- Flight of the Bluejay (1998)
- Plays Monk and Powell (1999)
- Europe (2001)
- Holiday for Strings (2002)
- Garden of Eden (2006)
- Portrait in Jazz (1959)
- Explorations (1961)
- Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)
- Waltz for Debby (1961)
- Expectations (1972)
- Fort Yawuh (1973)
- Backhand (1974)
- Shades (1975)
- The Survivor's Suite (1976)
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