Legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette is dead

US jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette has died. He died on Sunday (local time) at the age of 83 in Woodstock, New York, in the presence of his wife and close friends, his management told the dpa news agency. His label, ECM, also confirmed the musician's death.

DeJohnette was one of the most important jazz drummers of his generation and also worked as a pianist and composer. He played with John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd – including blues, bebop, hard bop, soul jazz, and rock jazz.

From the 1970s onward, he was also the "house drummer" for the ECM label. In their Munich studios, he recorded numerous records, including "Special Edition," "Song X," and "New Directions," as a sideman, leader, or under his own name.

DeJohnette was born on August 9, 1942, in Chicago. He played piano from the age of four to fourteen before switching to drums in high school and studying music.

His career began in New York in 1966. He played in jazz saxophonist John Coltrane's ensemble, then with Charles Lloyd's quartet, which also included the young pianist Keith Jarrett. With him and bassist Gary Peacock, DeJohnette formed the famous Keith Jarrett Trio in the 1980s.

R.I.P. Jack DeJohnette

Jack DeJohnette - Drum Solo at PASIC 2009

Jack DeJohnette Drum Solo (Live at SFJAZZ)

 

Yes and thats indeed a sad announcement even he was 83 years old...

 

R.I.P Maestro

 

He was a jazz Giant, R.I.P.

 

Wooot..
A big loss RIP

 

Standards I (Keith Jarret, Gary Peacock, Jack Dejohnette)

 

Last edited: Oct 28, 2025 at 10:20 AM

A great drummer.
RIP.

 

RIP

 

Oh Schade....

What a great Man.

I just saw a pretty Young Video from Sonor 3 days Ago he was in there with Steve Smith ---> Recorded a couple Weeks ago? Or This Summer.

oh i see its written there --->

• This conversation was recorded at Clubhouse Studio in Rhinebeck, NY on September 9th, 2024. -
  
  Thats why Sonor posted this on Sunday. They already knew, that he was dead.
  
  

 

The most modern of jazz drummers, and has been so his entire career. I saw Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition back in 1981. Awesome. No one played jazz like Jack.