Paul Motian
Paul Motian would be a legendary drummer if just for his membership in the 1959-61 Bill Evans Trio that featured bassist Scott LaFaro. But there is much more to his musical legacy than that one association. Born in Philadelphia in 1931, Motian started on the drums when he was 12. An early gig saw him touring New England with a swing band. After a stint in the Navy during the Korean War, he moved to New York in 1955. Motian had a variety of high-profile jobs, including stays with Thelonious Monk, George Russell, Lennie Tristano and Coleman Hawkins. While with the Tony Scott Quartet, Motian got along well with the other players: Evans and LaFaro. The Bill Evans Trio formed out of that group and made history with their subtle interplay. After LaFaro’s tragic death in a car accident, Motian stayed with Evans to 1963, playing in the trio that also featured bassist Chuck Israels. He next worked with Paul Bley in a trio that extended the innovations of Evans. Motian was associated with Keith Jarrett, with whom he first played in 1967, throughout much of the 1970s, working and recording with Jarrett’s Quintet, which also featured Dewey Redman and Charlie Haden. Motian also freelanced, including jobs with Warne Marsh, Don Cherry, Mose Allison, Carla Bley, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Ensemble and Charles Lloyd. He made his recording debut as a leader in 1972 (Conception Vessel) and recorded frequently for ECM during the next decade and later for Soul Note, JMT and Winter & Winter. Motian had a trio with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano in the early 1980s. He has also led the Electric Bebop Band (with Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Chris Cheek or Tony Malaby on saxophones) and several different ensembles that usually included Frisell’s guitar, which often took the place of both piano and bass. In addition, he has worked as a sideman with Marilyn Crispell, Lee Konitz and Leni Stern. Paul Motian’s floating and subtle style of drumming implies rather than states the time and has become quite influential.
Articles on Paul Motian
05/27/13 Features By Jeff Tamarkin
Paying Tribute to Paul Motian
03/25/13 Artist's Choice By Joe Lovano
Artist's Choice: Joe Lovano on Paul Motian
02/22/13 News By Jeff Tamarkin
Paul Motian Tribute Set for NYC March 22
03/28/12 Albums By Geoffrey Himes
Further Explorations
Chick Corea/Eddie Gomez/Paul Motian
03/18/12 Farewells By Joe Lovano
Joe Lovano Remembers Paul Motian
03/17/12 Farewells By Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell Remembers Paul Motian
03/15/12 JT Notes By Evan Haga
Forever in Motian
01/15/12 The Gig By Nate Chinen
2011: The Year in Gigs
12/28/11 Albums By Colin Fleming
The Windmills of Your Mind
Paul Motian
11/08/11 Before & After By Bill Milkowski
Tyshawn Sorey Takes the Before & After Challenge
07/20/11 Albums By Bill Milkowski
Consort in Motion
Samuel Blaser/Paul Motian
07/20/11 Albums By Bill Milkowski
Consort in Motion
Samuel Blaser/Paul Motian
05/17/11 Albums By Bill Beuttler
Live at Birdland
Lee Konitz/Brad Mehldau/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian
March 2011 Albums By Mike Shanley
String Choir: The Music of Paul Motian
Joel Harrison
04/20/10 Between The Grooves By Philip Booth
Quick HIts
January/February 2009 Features By JazzTimes
2008 Year in Review: Top 50 CDs
11/04/08 Concerts By David R. Adler
Enrico Pieranunzi at Birdland
November 2008 JT Notes By Evan Haga
David Sanborn, Drum Legend
November 2008 Albums By Steve Greenlee
Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. II
Paul Motian Trio 2000 + Two
03/10/08 Concerts By Bill Milkowski
Dennis Irwin Benefit Concert
January/February 2008 The Gig By Nate Chinen
2007: The Year in Gigs
November 2007 Features By Josef Woodard
Do The Write Thing: Drummer-Composers Trade Their Sticks for Pens
November 2007 Albums By Mike Joyce
Your Songs: The Music of Elton John
Pietro Tonolo, Gil Goldstein, Steve Swallow, Paul Motian
November 2007 Albums By Brent Burton
Live at the Village Vanguard Volume I
Paul Motian Trio 2000 + Two
08/24/07 Concerts By Josef Woodard
Paul Bley, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian
July/August 2007 JT Notes By Evan Haga
Ponce de León Should’ve Checked the Vanguard
July/August 2007 Features By Evan Haga
Paul Motian, Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano: Trio In Motian
May 2007 Albums By Chris Kelsey
Time and Time Again
Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano
January/February 2007 The Gig By Nate Chinen
The Year in Gigs
December 2006 Guitartistry By David R. Adler
Think Like the Waves
Gordon Grdina/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian
December 2006 Guitartistry By David R. Adler
Think Like the Waves
Gordon Grdina/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian
December 2006 The Gig By Nate Chinen
Sidetracked
November 2006 Albums By Aaron Steinberg
On Broadway, Volume 4: Or the Paradox of Continuity
Paul Motian Trio 2000+One
November 2006 Albums By Bill Milkowski
Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian
Bill Frisell
10/23/06 Concerts By David R. Adler
Marilyn Crispell w/ Mark Helias, Paul Motian, Joe Lovano
09/11/06 Concerts By Evan Haga
Paul Motian, Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell
06/21/06 Concerts By Bill Milkowski
Sweet Lorraine: A Jazz Celebration for the Village Vanguard
May 2006 Albums By Brent Burton
Garden of Eden
Paul Motian Band
May 2006 Albums By Brent Burton
Garden of Eden
Paul Motian Band
January/February 2006 Top 50 CDs of 2005 By
I Have the Room Above Her
Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano
January/February 2006 Top 50 CDs of 2005 By
I Have the Room Above Her
Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano
December 2005 Albums By Thomas Conrad
TATI
Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani, Paul Motian
December 2005 Albums By Thomas Conrad
TATI
Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani, Paul Motian
November 2005 Albums By Thomas Conrad
Goodbye
Bobo Stenson, Anders Jormin, Paul Motian
November 2005 Albums By Thomas Conrad
Goodbye
Bobo Stenson, Anders Jormin, Paul Motian
July/August 2005 Albums By Aaron Steinberg
Special Encounter
Enrico Pieranunzi, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian
July/August 2005 Albums By Aaron Steinberg
Special Encounter
Enrico Pieranunzi, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian
March 2005 Albums By Nate Chinen
I Have the Room Above Her
Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano
March 2005 Albums By Nate Chinen
I Have the Room Above Her
Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano
January/February 2005 Albums By Thomas Conrad
Play Morricone 2
Enrico Pieranunzi/Marc Johnson/Joey Baron
January/February 2005 Albums By Thomas Conrad
Play Morricone 2
Enrico Pieranunzi/Marc Johnson/Joey Baron
January/February 2005 The Gig By Nate Chinen
The Year in Gigs
December 2002 Albums By Mike Shanley
Holiday for Strings
Paul Motian and the E.B.B.B.
November 2001 Features By Bill Shoemaker
Paul Motian: Europe in Motian
10/15/01 Concerts By Bill Milkowski
Duets on the Hudson
June 2001 Albums By Graham Lock
Amaryllis
Marilyn Crispell/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian
January/February 2000 Albums By Duck Baker
Play Monk and Powell
Paul Motian and the EBBB
October 1999 Albums By Duck Baker
Not Two, Not One
Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian
October 1999 Albums By Duck Baker
Not Two, Not One
Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian
September 1999 Albums By Bill Milkowski
Trio 2000 + One
Paul Motian
June 1999 Label Watch By Josef Woodard
Label Watch: Winter & Winter
March 1999 Albums By Harvey Pekar
Flight of the Blue Jay
Paul Motian
Events featuring Paul Motian
- Paul Bley, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian
- Marilyn Crispell w/ Mark Helias, Paul Motian, Joe Lovano
- Paul Motian, Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell
- Sweet Lorraine: A Jazz Celebration for the Village Vanguard
- Duets on the Hudson
- Enrico Pieranunzi at Birdland
- BRANISLAV "Bato The Yugo" ANDONOV-PAUL MOTIAN-MATT PAVOLKA Live in NYC
Albums
Flight of the Blue Jay
Trio 2000 + One
Play Monk and Powell
Europe
Holiday for Strings
In Tokio
I Have the Room Above Her
Special Encounter
Goodbye
Goodbye
TATI
At the Village Vanguard
Garden of Eden
On Broadway, Volume 4: Or the Paradox of Continuity
Think Like the Waves
Doorways
Amaryllis
Time and Time Again
Live at the Village Vanguard Volume I
Your Songs: The Music of Elton John
Not Two, Not One
Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. II
Live at Birdland
Consort in Motion
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