Trigonometry

Ornette Coleman (alto sax), Pat Metheny (guitar synthesizer), Charlie Haden (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums) and Denardo Coleman (drums, percussion). From the album Song X (1986).

Jack DeJohnette is one of the most influential American jazz drummers of the 20th century, as well as a pianist and composer. He has played with Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, Michael Brecker, Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Abbey Lincoln, John Scofield, Stanley Turrentine, Stan Getz and Joe Henderson among others. In his style he incorporates elements of rhythm and blues, hard bop, free jazz and world music, being one of the most requested and resourceful drummers with a distinct voice. His pulse is fluid, his timing is superb and even when he pushes the rhythm he keeps on swinging. His tonal palette is very wide and has an unusual musicality among jazz drummers.

DeJohnette started playing the piano at age 4 and studied at the at Chicago Conservatory of Music, and at 14 he launched his professional career. A few years later he began to play drums, which eventually became his main instrument. He played with rhythm and blues, hard bop and avant-garde bands in Chicago, his hometown. He also led his own groups and in the mid-1960s participated in the Association for the Advancment of Creative Musicians. In 1966 he moved to New York and for two years was part of Charles Lloyd’s well-known group, which mixed free jazz with psychedelic rock. In 1968 he recorded his first album as a leader entitled The DeJohnette Complex.

The theme has an easy to listen melody and immediately Coleman begins to play at high speed, but soon goes down to a medium-fast tempo offering an interesting and full of unexpected twists solo that develops eloquently and skillfully. Next it’s Metheny’s turn, who produces a special sound with his synthesized guitar. He plays dynamic and intricate phrases leaving space between them until his discourse becomes more incisive and continuous, and at last the group re-exposes the theme.