Paul Motian | |
|---|---|
 Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, and Bill Frisell in Rome | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Stephen Paul Motian |
| Born | March 25, 1931 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Died | November 22, 2011 (aged 80) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, bebop, hard bop, post-bop, avant-garde jazz, free improvisation |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, bandleader |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1954–2010 |
| Labels | ECM, Soul Note, JMT, Winter & Winter |
Stephen Paul Motian[1][2] (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011)[3][4] was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties.[5]
Motian first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans and later was a regular in pianist Keith Jarrett's band for about a decade (c. 1967–1976). The drummer began his career as a bandleader in the early 1970s. Perhaps his two most notable groups were a longstanding trio with guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano as well as the Electric Bebop Band, in which he worked mostly with younger musicians on interpretations of bebop standards.
- ^ Watson, Philip (2022). Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music. London: Faber & Faber 2022. p. 100. ISBN 978-0571361663. - the original Armenian pronunciation and the one used by the family is "MO-tee-un;" however, Paul Motian used the pronunciation "MO-shun" and he accepted both versions
- ^ "Stephen Paul Motian". Npr.org. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
His surname is Armenian, the original pronunciation is "MO-tee-un;" however, Paul Motian used "MO-shun"
- ^ "Paul Motian Dies at 80". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
- ^ Paul Motian, Jazz Drummer, Is Dead at 80,, The New York Times, November 22, 2011
- ^ "Paul Motian – Òrain Ùra, Clàran-ciùil & Naidheachdan as Ùire – BBC Music". BBC (in Scottish Gaelic). Retrieved October 18, 2018.