Paul Motian

drums · 1931–2011 · Philadelphia

Drummer born in Philadelphia, of Bill Evans's trio (1959-1964) and then Keith Jarrett's group (around 1967-1976). He helped free jazz drummers move beyond the role of simple metronome, and recorded as a leader for ECM, Soul Note, and Winter & Winter.

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Styles

• Free jazz
• ECM and European jazz

Landmark tracks

• Conception Vessel (1972)

Cited in 3 radio episodes

• Jan 16, 2026: Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, Paul Motian, histoire d'un trio de légende, troisième partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Jan 15, 2026: Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, Paul Motian, histoire d'un trio de légende, deuxième partie (avec Laurent Briffaux) (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)
• Jan 14, 2026: Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, Paul Motian, histoire d'un trio de légende, première partie (Pour qui sonne le jazz, TSF Jazz, in French)

Sources

• EN : Paul Motian
• EN : Conception Vessel

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