Take the "A" Train with solo by Elvin Jones - Duke Ellington

Comments · 373

• EL

  @elvinz2 · 4 years ago

  Thank you, Mr Wolf, for posting this gem from our father's career. This is important footage. Much respect to the memory and legacy of Elvin Ray Jones.

  761

• AL

  @alanasda7705 · 3 years ago

  My father was a jazz drummer and Elvin Jones was his hero. About twenty five years ago, he had the opportunity to hear the great Elvin Jones give a masterclass in Montreal at the Salle Gesu concert hall and actually played with him. My father told me that besides marrying my mom and my birth, that day was happiest day of his life.

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• BE

  @bennymalone · 2 years ago

  Elvin getting vibe checked because he’s from the future

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• TW

  @Twoholesofman · 4 years ago

  As soon as Elvin starts that solo, you know he is on another level. Thank god he went his own way.

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• RE

  @ReminiscinginTempo · 4 years ago

  &apos;I joined him in Frankfurt, and my stay with him lasted just a week and a half, through Nuremberg and Paris and Italy and Switzerland. I was new. It was difficult for the band to adapt to my style and I had to do everything in a big hurry, trying to adapt to them. Then the bass player started playing games with me by lowering and raising tempos to make it look like I was unsteady, and finally I had to speak to him and he stopped. Hodges and Cat Anderson and Gonsalves and Mercer Ellington knew what was going on, but Duke didn&apos;t. And I guess I didn&apos;t connect with the anchormen, because they complained about my playing to Duke. I don&apos;t know whether Cootie who kept giving me the fisheye, wanted me to call him Mr. Williams and shine his shoes or what. Also, Duke had a second drummer in the band and he was an egomaniac. So Duke and I talked at Orly Airport and I told him to send a telegram to Sam Woodyard and tell him to get himself over there, because he knew the whole book. I saw Duke later, after he&apos;d found out what had been going on, and everything was fine -- no sweat. He told me I could come back with the band any time I wanted. He&apos;s such a great man. Given more time under different circumstances -- being left alone and all -- it might have been a beautiful thing for me.&apos;<br><br>Elvin Jones

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• YO

  @yourfamilydocter · 3 years ago

  Jazz is the one few things that makes me truly proud and grateful to be American

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• PI

  @pillettadoinswartsh4974 · 4 years ago (edited)

  Elvin was 10-15 years ahead of everyone else on that stage. &nbsp;Right on to him for playing from his heart and not just what they wanted to hear.<br><br>My Elvin story: &nbsp;It was around 1993. &nbsp;My girlfriend and I were visiting the city of Toronto. &nbsp;It&apos;s about 10pm or so, and we&apos;re walking the streets on a Friday night. &nbsp;Out of the black of the night, I hear the sweetest-sounding band playing. &nbsp;We follow my ears until we get to this club (or &quot;house&quot; is more like it), and it&apos;s packed to the gills, overflowing onto the street. &nbsp;I asked a guy who was straining to see inside, &quot;who&apos;s playing, friend?&quot; &nbsp;He replied, IT&apos;S ELVIN, MAN! &nbsp;But I can&apos;t see shit&quot; &nbsp;&quot; I said, &quot;Elvin JONES!?&quot; &nbsp;He nodded his head with a beaming smile. <br><br>So we just stood outside for about 1/2 hour until the set was over, listening to some of the best jazz you&apos;ve ever heard. <br><br>They were deep and hoppin&apos; man!!

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• JE

  @JerryAttric42 · 4 years ago (edited)

  if you are interested, here&apos;s Elvin&apos;s version how it came about: Context: Elvin to Whitney Balliett in 1968. (The second drummer Elvin refers to is Skeets Marsh): <br>&quot;I joined him in Frankfurt, and my stay with him lasted just a week and a half, through Nuremberg and Paris and Italy and Switzerland. I was new. It was difficult<br>for the band to adapt to my style and I had to do everything in a big hurry, trying to adapt to them. Then the bass player started playing games with me by lowering and raising tempos to make it look like I was unsteady, and finally I had to speak to him and he stopped. Hodges and Cat Anderson and Gonsalves and Mercer Ellington knew what was going on, but Duke didn&apos;t. And I guess I didn&apos;t connect with the anchormen, because they complained about my playing to Duke. I don&apos;t know whether Cootie who kept giving me the fisheye, wanted me to call him Mr. Williams and shine his shoes or what. Also, Duke had a second drummer in the band and he was an egomaniac. So Duke and I talked at Orly Aiport and I told him to send a telegram to Sam Woodyard and tell him to get himself over there, because he knew the whole book.&quot; [excerpt]

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• BO

  @bobbysands6923 · 3 years ago (edited)

  There is only one Elvin. He played differently than anyone. He played inside out--like all of the music emanated from him--and in perpetual motion. He was a sight to be seen live. And hit really hard. Wow.

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• AL

  @alfafender · 4 years ago

  What a nightmare for Elvin. He got the cold shoulder from the rest of the band also.

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• MC

  @mccabeteems · 2 years ago

  Elvin won the idgaf war

  5

• AN

  @antares8281 · 2 years ago

  The genius of Billy Strayhorn on full display.

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