RIP Paul Motian

edited November 2011 in Jazz
My favourite drummer of all time, and one of my favourite composers, died this week in New York at 80.

Paul Motian played time in a way no-one else has ever figured out, developed an instantly-recognisable minimalist sub-division of the jazz piano trio, spent the past 30 years playing jaw-dropping improvisations with saxophonist Joe Lovano and guitarist Bill Frisell. There was a time in the 80s when that trio seemed to swing through London about three times a year, and I'd make sure I was there.

He was simply the greatest. When I get back from Cornwall, I'll be playing everything I have with Motian - from Bill Evans' Portrait in Jazz to Motian's own recent live albums from the Village Vanguard.

I'll leave the formal obit to the Guardian's John Fordham.

Good luck to you, Paul, wherever you are.

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