Wikipedia

Paul Motian

Stephen Paul Motian[1][2](March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011)[3][4]was an Americanjazz drummer,percussionist, and composer of Armenian descent. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties.[5]

Paul Motian
Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, and Bill Frisell in Rome
Joe Lovano,Paul Motian, andBill Frisellin Rome
Background information
Birth nameStephen Paul Motian
Born(1931-03-25)March 25, 1931
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S.
OriginProvidence,Rhode Island
DiedNovember 22, 2011(2011-11-22)(aged 80)
Manhattan,New York, U.S.
GenresJazz,bebop,hard bop,post-bop,avant-garde jazz,free improvisation
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, bandleader
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1954–2010
LabelsECM,Soul Note,JMT,Winter & Winter

Motian first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio ofBill Evansand later was a regular in pianistKeith 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 guitaristBill Friselland saxophonistJoe Lovanoas well as the Electric Bebop Band, in which he worked mostly with younger musicians on interpretations ofbebopstandards.

Biography

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Motian was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvaniaand raised inProvidence, Rhode Island.He was ofArmeniandescent. After playing guitar in his childhood, Motian began playing the drums at age 12, eventually touringNew Englandin aswingband. During theKorean Warhe joined the Navy.

Motian became a professional musician in 1954, and briefly played with pianistThelonious Monk.He became well known as the drummer in pianistBill Evans's trio (1959–64), initially alongside bassistScott LaFaroand later withChuck Israels.[6][7]

Subsequently, he played with pianistsPaul Bley(1963–64) andKeith Jarrett(1967–76). Other musicians with whom Motian performed and/or recorded in the early period of his career includedLennie Tristano,Warne Marsh,Lee Konitz,[8]Joe Castro,Arlo Guthrie(Motian performed briefly with Guthrie in 1968–69, including atWoodstock),Carla Bley,Charlie Haden,andDon Cherry.Motian subsequently worked with musicians such asMarilyn Crispell,Bill Frisell,Leni Stern,Joe Lovano,Gonzalo Rubalcaba,Alan Pasqua,Bill McHenry,Stéphan Oliva,Frank Kimbrough,Eric Watsonand many more.

Later in his career, Motian became an important composer and group leader,[9]recording initially forECM Recordsin the 1970s and early 1980s and then forSoul Note,JMT,andWinter & Winterbefore returning to ECM in 2005.[6]From the early 1980s he led a trio featuring guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano, occasionally joined by bassistsEd Schuller,Charlie Haden, orMarc Johnson,and other musicians, includingJim Pepper,Lee Konitz,Dewey RedmanandGeri Allen.In addition to playing Motian's compositions, the group recorded tributes to Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, and a series ofPaul Motian on Broadwayalbums, featuring original interpretations ofjazz standards.

Despite his important associations with pianists, Motian's work as a leader since the 1970s rarely included a pianist in his ensembles and relied heavily on guitarists. Motian's first instrument was the guitar, and he apparently retained an affinity for the instrument: in addition to his groups with Frisell, his first two solo albums on ECM featuredSam Brown,and his Electric Bebop Band featured two and occasionally three electric guitars. The group was founded in the early 1990s, and featured a variety of young guitar and saxophone players.

In 2011 Motian featured on a number of new recordings, includingLive at Birdland(with Lee Konitz,Brad Mehldauand Charlie Haden),Samuel Blaser'sConsort in Motion,No Commentby Augusto Pirodda, andFurther ExplorationswithChick CoreaandEddie Gómez.Bill McHenry'sGhosts of the Sunwas released - by coincidence - on the day of Motian's death. Motian's final album as bandleader wasThe Windmills of Your Mind,featuring Bill Frisell,Thomas MorganandPetra Haden.

Death

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Motian died on November 22, 2011 at the age of 80 at New York'sMount Sinai Hospitalof complications frommyelodysplastic syndrome.[10]

Box set releases

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CAM Jazzreleased a box set titledPaul Motianin September 2010. This release compiles a number of albums which were originally issued by the Soul Note label:The Story of Maryam,Jack of Clubs,Misterioso,Notes(withPaul Bley),One Time Out(with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano) andFlux and Change(duet with Enrico Pieranunzi).

In November 2012, Winter & Winter releasedPaul Motian on Broadway Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5which collects the five volumes ofOn Broadwayinto a single set.

ECM Records released a box set titledPaul Motianin April 2013, as part of the label's continuingOld & New Masters Editionseries. This set compiles the six albums that Motian recorded for ECM between 1972 and 1984;Conception Vessel,Tribute,Dance,Le Voyage,PsalmandIt Should've Happened a Long Time Ago.

Posthumous releases

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The first posthumous release to feature Motian wasSunriseby theMasabumi KikuchiTrio (with Thomas Morgan), released in March 2012 by ECM. This was followed in July 2012 byOwls Talkby Alexandra Grimal (also featuringLee KonitzandGary Peacock), released byHarmonia Mundi.

Two live recordings, led by pianistEnrico Pieranunzi,have been released by CAM Jazz;New York Reflections: Live at Birdland(with Steve Swallow) was released in October 2012 (exclusively in vinyl format), whileLive at the Village Vanguard(with Marc Johnson) was issued in March 2013.

CAM Jazz reissuedOne Time Outin March 2013, in 180g vinyl format. A compact disc edition is supplied with it.One Time Outwas also issued on CD as part of the CAM JazzPaul Motianboxset.

In 2023, Frozen Reeds released "Duo in Concert," recordings of Motian freely improvising withDerek Bailey,from their two known live performances.[11]

Motian compositions recorded by others and tributes

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Motian Sickness – The Music of Paul Motian (for the Love of Sarah)was released in September 2011, featuring Jeff Cosgrove, John Hebert,Mat Maneriand Jamie Masefield.[12]

November 2011 saw the release ofJoel Harrison'sString Choir: The Music of Paul Motian.Harrison arranged Motian's music for a string quartet (featuringChristian Howes,Sam Bardfeld, Mat Maneri, andDana Leong), plus two guitars (Liberty Ellmanand Harrison).[13]

Russ Lossing'sDrum Music: Music of Paul Motian (Solo Piano)was released in July 2012 bySunnyside Records.[14]Lossing originally recorded the album to celebrate Motian's 80th birthday; he published a video on YouTube about the recording.[15]

Ravi Coltraneincluded the Motian compositionFantasmon his 2012 albumSpirit Fiction.The performance features Joe Lovano.[16]

Noël Akchotéindependently releasedFiasco (Plays the Music of Paul Motian)in July 2015, exclusively in digital format. It features solo acoustic guitar arrangements of twenty Motian compositions.

In 2016, Jean-Marc Padovani releasedMotian in Motionvia Naïve Jazz.

In 2018, the Carl Michel Group releasedMusic in Motianvia Play On Records.[17][18]

In 2020, Haşmet Asilkan arranged the songs of Motian for solo guitar and released them under the titlePaul Motian Songbook[19]

Discography

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Main article:Paul Motian discography

References

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  1. ^Watson, Philip (2022).Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music.London: Faber & Faber 2022. p. 100.ISBN978-0571361663.- 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
  2. ^"Stephen Paul Motian".Npr.org.RetrievedApril 11,2016.His surname isArmenian,the original pronunciation is "MO-tee-un;" however, Paul Motian used "MO-shun"
  3. ^"Paul Motian Dies at 80".JazzTimes. Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2011.RetrievedNovember 22,2011.
  4. ^Paul Motian, Jazz Drummer, Is Dead at 80,,The New York Times,November 22, 2011
  5. ^"Paul Motian – Òrain Ùra, Clàran-ciùil & Naidheachdan as Ùire – BBC Music".BBC(in Scottish Gaelic).RetrievedOctober 18,2018.
  6. ^abHuey, Steve."Paul Motian: Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedNovember 23,2011.
  7. ^Berendt, Joachim-Ernst (1976).The Jazz Book.Paladin. p. 298.
  8. ^Ind, Peter (2005).Jazz Visions: Lennie Tristano and His Legacy.Equinox. p. 74.ISBN978-1-84553-281-9.
  9. ^"Paul Motian".The Daily Telegraph.London. November 24, 2011.
  10. ^McLellan, Dennis (November 24, 2011)."Paul Motian dies at 80; jazz drummer and composer".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 25,2011.
  11. ^"Duo in Concert, by Derek Bailey & Paul Motian".frozen reeds.RetrievedNovember 22,2023.
  12. ^"Jeff Cosgrove is a versatile freelance drummer working in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area available for session work, live performances, and private instruction".Jeff Cosgrove Music. March 31, 2016.RetrievedApril 11,2016.
  13. ^"Official Website of the Musician, Composer & Performer | String Choir".Joel Harrison. January 24, 2013.RetrievedApril 11,2016.
  14. ^"by Russ Lossing".Sunnyside Records. July 17, 2012.RetrievedApril 11,2016.
  15. ^VideoonYouTube
  16. ^"Spirit Fiction - Ravi Coltrane - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic".AllMusic.RetrievedAugust 15,2018.
  17. ^"Music In Motian".Carlmichel.com.February 14, 2018.RetrievedJune 7,2019.
  18. ^"Carl Michel: Music in Motian".Allaboutjazz.com.April 19, 2018.RetrievedJune 7,2019.
  19. ^"Paul Motian Songbook".Open.spotify.com.RetrievedJuly 30,2021.
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