27 · 10 · 2025
Reports are coming in from the United States regarding the passing of jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette.
Multiple sources connected to the iconic drummer have reported the news, with tributes from musicians such as Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Ulysses Owens, and others expressing their condolences.
Raised in Chicago, Jack DeJohnette developed his artistry during a vibrant period in the city's music scene, influenced by R&B and hard bop, while also absorbing avant-garde ideas that enriched his musical vocabulary.
A remarkable and fluid timekeeper, Jack DeJohnette fused a natural sense of rhythm with a passion for innovation. After moving to New York, he became involved with the influential trumpet player Miles Davis, stepping into the role of drummer after the legendary Tony Williams.
As the main drummer on ‘Bitches Brew’, Jack DeJohnette played a pivotal role in transforming jazz, with those sessions often credited with initiating the fusion genre.
For three years, he worked alongside Miles Davis, and this collaboration significantly influenced the evolution of jazz. Additionally, his projects with Miles's band members, like Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, opened up a whole new realm of musical ideas.
As a band leader, he recorded extensively with influential avant-garde labels such as CTI and ECM, fully embracing musical exploration. Throughout the decade, his body of work ranged from pure fusion compositions to ‘Music For The Fifth World’, which reflects his Crow and Seminole heritage and incorporates insights from Native American elders.
Jazz Dispensary praised him as “a true sorcerer of rhythm” in their homage, while Marvin “Mitty” Smith expressed his sadness over the loss of a drumming mentor.
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Reports are surfacing from the United States indicating that jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette has passed away. Several sources close to the situation have referenced the news.
