On Friday 22 March in New York will be played a tribute concert to Paul Motian, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
American musicians, guitarist and composer Bill Frisell and saxophonist and multi instrumentalist Joe Lovano will be hosting a program they created in memory of Motian. The concert is going to be at the Symphony Space with following musicians performing: Andrew Cyrille, Ben Monder, Ravi Coltrane, Ben Street, Bill Frisell, Billy Drewes, Jerome Harris, Billy Hart, Chris Cheek, Ed Schuller, Marilyn Crispell, Gary Peacock, Bill McHenry, Greg Osby, Tim Berne, Ethan Iverson, Jakob Bro, Joe Lovano, Joey Baron, Larry Grenadier, Mark Turner, Masabumi Kikuchi, Petra Haden, Steve Cardenas, and Tony Malaby.
Paul Motian died in 2011 at the age of 80. He started composing in the second half of his life, before that he was a member of famous bands like the Bill Evans Trio in the 50′, and Keith Jarrett‘s quartet from the 60’. Among musicians he collaborated with were Charlie Haden, Paul Bley, and numerous band leaders including Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, Mose Allison, Tony Scott, Stan Getz and Johnny Griffin.
“Paul Motian was one of a kind among drummers who thought about the music. He wasn’t just about the rhythm, but casting his own sound on everything he played, he could play anything, and with anybody”, said Keith Jarrett about this great artist.
Watch Jarrett, Motian and Haden performing in Germany in 1972.