University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Elvin Jones: The evolution of modern jazz drumming

McKnight, Markiquis Jabbar

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Mark McKnight_thesis.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117510

Description

Title
Elvin Jones: The evolution of modern jazz drumming
Author(s)
McKnight, Markiquis Jabbar
Issue Date
2023
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Meyers, John
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Spencer, Joel
Committee Member(s)
  • McNeill, Charles
  • Bridgewater, Ronald
Department of Study
School of Music
Discipline
Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D. (doctoral)
Keyword(s)
  • Elvin Jones
  • jazz drumming
  • drum
  • modern jazz drumming
  • John Coltrane Quartet
  • polyrhythms
  • four-limb independence
Language
en
Abstract
Jazz drumming has substantially evolved over the years and has done so with the help of some iconic innovators. Although many drummers have contributed to the progress of the style we have come to know as modern jazz drumming, one of the main influencers of modern jazz drumming is Elvin Jones. Often referred to as the father of modern jazz drumming, Jones is a legendary jazz drummer who left his mark on both the history and the sound of jazz music. His melodic and energetic playing, which drew inspiration from African and Caribbean drumming has been immensely influential to both jazz and funk music. While Jones’s name is internationally known, especially among drummers of all music genres, jazz musicians, and fans of jazz music, relatively few scholarly works have discussed in detail what he did to shape and define the complex style of modern jazz drumming. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is to examine how Jones influenced its evolution. In particular, this thesis will focus on the height of Jones’s performing career with the John Coltrane Quartet from 1960 to 1965. A history of previous innovations, transcriptions of recordings, as well as books, articles, interviews, and observations from other drummers, musicians, musicologists, and historians are the basis of the research. These various resources will help demonstrate what shaped Jones’s unique style and his influence on the evolution of jazz drumming. To evaluate Jones’s style and contributions, I will concentrate on his unique approach to accompaniment (comping), four-limb independence, polyrhythms, and ride cymbal patterns. Jazz pedagogy, reflections from jazz musicologists, and my own transcription and analysis of Jones’s recordings with the Coltrane Quartet between the years 1960-65, informed by my own experience as a jazz drummer and educator, will support my analysis. Understanding Jones’s approach is relevant to a complete understanding of jazz drumming because his style has been so influential in jazz music and in other musical genres as well.
Graduation Semester
2023-05-02T14:00:09-05:00
Type of Resource
  • text
  • still image
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2023 Markiquis Jabbar McKnight

Owning Collections

Doctoral Project Theses [Option 2] - Music PRIMARY