Elvin Jones, Max Roach, and Art Blakey Drum Battle

[@joey_gallant]

I love watching Max Roach play. He almost looks like a chef preparing a meal.

[@rodneygolden2796]

THIS WAS NOT A BATTLE. IT WAS A SUMMIT MEETING, PURE AND NOT SIMPLE!!!. SUPERB.

[@Bfdasmith]

Just when I thought this can't get any better, Max Roach walked onstage. Just when I thought this can't get any better, Art Blakey walked onstage. Just when I thought this can't any better, they started playing together. The crappy quality of this video actually helps capture the sense of history. Perfect!

[@killifish]

Well said!

[@FelixWheatfield]

Elvin Jones was such a unique drummer. He would transition erratically between long, fluid, and legato sections and quiet sections with a lot of negative space, but for as erratic as it was, it was always musical. Elvin was a true storyteller who always kept you excited about what he was going to do next.

[@doctorpatient519]

beautifully said, Sir ... if you can, please search here for Elvin Jones Jan Hammer "Destiny" ... another aspect of Elvin's genius, this time in a more electric context

[@miguelbringas4037]

Those sounds are so organic. Beautiful

[@rjharvey3408]

The legends here are the blue print among others who contributed to drumming. Salute💯

[@davidlewis3918]

Oh the timing!!! Oh the stamina!!! Oh the power!!!

[@xtremenortherner]

I'll name the participants of this drum "battle"(more like a sporting event for these gentlemen!)The Maestro(Elvin), the Killer(Max) and finally the Crazy(Art,naturally!) The Maestro & the Killer lay down some impressive drumming..., but "Crazy" here just goes all out! (We were blessed by/ these guys musicianship in our lifetime!)

[@ryebread7224]

3 geniuses demonstrating their excellence. So much talent on that stage...

[@cezmiyarimkaya7877]

Phenomenal artists and what a gem of a recording.

[@bjhill314]

I was fortunate to see Elvin on his 70th birthday show and Max Roach in Seattle. Class acts ...

[@taocpa]

Notice to young drummers: they created more magic using 4 piece drum kits than many drummers do with big drum kits.

[@harrymears1623]

sick observation!

[@alfching2499]

If you can’t play what is the use of 27 drums you only need one to be able to play.

[@russelltoffoli444]

wow this has never been said before

[@harrymears1623]

@@russelltoffoli444 Ive been drumming for 50 years and reading youtube comments since the 60s and this is my first time hearing this idea, this concept. I find it not only insightful but also funny. It also helps me to feel superior even though my preferred genre is less profitable/ popular than others

[@zelmoziggy]

Junior Brown’s drummer was terrific using just one drum.

[@yoguibruja]

All three have such a recognizable style that you could guess who is who with your eyes closed

[@celomasina]

We can see so much love and respect between them and for the art of drummung and jazz.

[@kevinsullivan2362]

in the mid 90s I saw Max Roach play. By then he was old and it was a feeble performance. Literally a week later I saw Elvin for the first time, sitting front row, expected the same. He blew the roof off the place. Broke two drum peddles. I actually wished I had sat further away. He was still a monster!

[@よっちゃん-u8y1i]

アートブレイキーのドラミングになぜか涙がとまらない。テクニック云々のレベルじゃない。魂を感じるから。残念ながら生で見た事ないが私にとっては世界一のドラマーです。何となく和太鼓に通じるものを感じます。そう言えばあなたは日本が好きでしたね.奥さんも日本人だとか。孤児を引き取る優しさを忘れません

[@TweedSuit]

All these guys are from the same era but have such different approaches. They utilise the same rudiments but have their own distinctive sound.

[@JMoroccoMisterBoy]

I saw and listened in stunned silence to Mr. Art Blakey in the West Village in the Middle Seventies. Tks. much.

[@AlbertWolfe-p9v]

i love how confident art blakey is. he doesnt even need to start heavy, he knows he's king

[@jordanposnik6663]

He blew Max and Elvin out of the water

[@AlbertWolfe-p9v]

@@jordanposnik6663 as a king does

[@klauzer3593]

​@@jordanposnik6663No way. Max and Elvin were a lot more adventurous and had more creative use of space, which is indicative of them spearheading the free sound of the 60s. Blakey was amazing in his fundamentals however.

[@Jazzygrouch144]

​@@klauzer3593nah

[@davissinclair4945]

To each his own opinion. They are all great drummers who influenced a whole lot of musicians.

[@drowdaba]

all three so distinct and unique

[@cjhmuller]

Perguntaram para Ginger Baker quais os bateristas que ele reverenciava, os melhores, e sem pensar muito respondeu: Máximo respeito e admiração Phil Seamen, Max Roach, Art Blakey e Elvin Jones. Mais ninguém!!!

[@keithoutterbridge8782]

Those cymbals sound amazing

[@angelbatdawid3596]

How do such wonders even exist in the universe!!!!🤯🤯🤯🤯🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@marcoramirez709]

My God, this is great.

[@danielschnee2666]

Elvin, Max, and Art taking everyone to school... best school ever. ❤

[@justicekeyes308]

Amazing to watch this! Thank you for sharing this footage its awesome! Takes me back to the 1970' village Gate as a young teenage watching Art Blakey & the Jazz messengers! First Class Jazz & incredible drumming! Hey what Jamakin' Art!

[@carlossantos2147]

There's no way to watch those drummers performing, the best ever, without being fully emotional.

[@4980cbs]

The Holy Trinity of jazz percussion.

[@RonCarterBassist]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@Slickmickyoyo97]

Man listen to how much Bonham was influenced by Blakey. So many early rock drummers had such a heavy jazz influence.

[@dylangatenby9928]

Same with Ginger Baker. Both Bonham and Baker had deeply influenced jazz roots and they actually blended techniques of jazz and rock even if they were just playing solid rock music.

[@dylangatenby9928]

Same with Ginger Baker. Both Bonham and Baker had deeply influenced jazz roots and they actually blended techniques of jazz and rock even if they were just playing solid rock music. Same thing goes for Hendrix’s drummer Mitch Mitchell

[@meyou-dv8ns]

I agree, Barry Barlow of Jethro Tull is about 10 times better then John Bonham, and Roach is about 50 times better then John Bonham

[@JohnDoe-me9jh]

@@meyou-dv8nsbarry barlow as good as he isn’t, isnt as good as bonham tbh. but max roach ofc would be even bonham would agree himself

[@blvcksandblues]

Yeah so many of the rock chops are just jazz chops.

[@fluffshepnetwork7067]

Of these 3 absolute giants, Max Roach is definitely my favorite, but it'd be really hard to say who won this drum battle. Each was remarkable in his own way.

[@petedazer3381]

That was awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@robsherfey4582]

You can see/hear the progression of jazz drumming watching this. Pretty cool.

[@jwardbass4452]

This is like if Hendrix, Gilmour and Page had a guitar battle. The amount of influence in that room is incalculable.

[@samuelblinne6040]

Max roach is my favorite jazz drummer

[@chrisduffy2737]

Roach had a melodic approach to drum breaks and accompaniment. Jones was a monster driving a band. Blakey was the only real soloist. Few long drum solos make sense; they're mostly pyrotechnics.

[@BegetterVIIEVEN]

Amazing.

[@ellisvives]

The Holy Trinity itself

[@robertslagle7176]

The Thunder of the Gods.

[@michaelstephans3080]

Three “winners,” not one.

[@gruntrvn]

Such a special treat, that had to be, for anyone fortunate enough to have actually been there! At first I thought that Art was just there on his name, until he started smoking in the middle. Hands down winner in my opine. Would have loved it if Philly Joe was with them also.

[@paatanatsvlishvili4334]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@davidwallace3329]

Was this recorded at Snape Maltings in Suffolk for the BBC? I think I was there!

[@TheMrE1974]

Art Blakey all day long...pure rhythm

[@MegaVentz]

They don't do drum solos, they tell stories.

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Yes! ✊🏼🥁

[@LOFIAD]

Cool

[@saanzacs]

The other 'holy trinity' of jazz drummers

[@MrSkunkwork]

I'd say Blakey walked away with this one. He just had more rhythmic energy. All three were amazing, though.

[@alfching2499]

Quite Right, Alf a life time Messengers fan

[@suhan8382]

Hi hat and bass makes things at time and rhythmic

[@Riddim4]

That was my impression, and with no disrespect to anyone else. He was definitely feeling it that day. Reminded me a lot of Billy with Mahavishnu in terms of taking charge.

[@dherz108]

Seems earlier than 1968. Happy Birthday Elvin!

[@Disneylandonacid1982]

I agree!

[@brucescott4261]

dherz108 ...1968!!!

[@HankFinkle11]

Three masters.

[@familytreemusic]

They are 3 giants and Elvin is my favorite ever. But Bu killed this one hands down.

[@ProfRobertStewart]

Max is KING, hands down.😁

[@rey82rey82]

Pocket Max

[@mikeharrison4659]

And that folks is who taught GINGER BAKER.......

[@zqa12swx]

6:27 that legendary press roll

[@jeshurunabinadab6560]

👑👑👑

[@nedgrant7718]

Max Roach: Carved from Granite! What they do on Mt. Olympus...

[@KCNYC]

Max gets my vote on this one

[@DanielKodiak]

Hey another cellist that loves max roach??

[@lodovicogianputtani1405]

Elvin was really ahead.... not technically speaking.... but with the drum solo concept in itself. Few noticed

[@FURDOG1961]

0:00

[@gilbertartman6106]

Elvin seemed to be phoning it in, tho…Max really cut them

[@Spillage66]

Fast forward to 2:00 to save watching some drunk, falling asleep at the kit!

[@BuckrBill]

To the day he died Ginger Baker said the best drummer that ever came out of the UK was Phil Seamens.. Somehow there is no video anywhere of him playing his drums no shortage of songs where you can hear him play his drums So if Ginger Baker said Phil Seamens was the best drummer in the UK to me.. that means Phil Seamens was the best drummer in the world… The second best drummer…Ginger Baker… One of Ginger Baker‘s good friends was Max Roach

[@nedgrant7718]

And why do they insist on calling musical collaborations a “drum battle”?

[@inerstate8]

1) Virtuosic artists throughout history have always tended to use competition to push their limits. If you get into a cutting contest with your peers, it's safe to assume that the natural desire to win will be at least a small motivating factor in your playing. 2) It's fun for us as an audience to contextualize the performance this way. It adds drama and urges us to act actively as judges as opposed to passively as bystanders. 3) As you can see, they are playing their pieces separately, not together; which makes it hard to refer to this as a colab. except for in a very loose sense of the word.

[@nedgrant7718]

@@inerstate8 Thanks! I’ll,remember to add “asking rhetorically” in the future. 🤫

[@K50ATTACK]

elvin jones oozing collaborative vibes at 2:40

[@mickeyfinnegan7469]

someone needs to clean up this print! repost it...what you don,t need 3 bass drums and 15 other drums?

[@strettoasino9006]

"Know thy drum kit" Psalm's 7/8th...

[@glennbuxton268]

Max roach

[@MrMLD1972]

👍🏾

[@alb4u]

Elvin Jones #1

[@BLUEPLANETJAZZ]

They are all great, but Elvin Jones never lost a drum battle.

[@mthomas1973]

From the sounds of it here, he was the one with the least musical performance and imagination

[@0SW13]

@@mthomas1973 of the three, elvin is the least 'straight ahead'. he comes out on top imo in terms of phrasing, inventiveness and texture. not to discount max or art, but they had playing solos similar to these, the same licks, for decades

[@brucescott4261]

BLUEPLANETJAZZ ...According to you.

[@brucescott4261]

@@0SW13 ...Stop!

[@finncoover5692]

Until he met art lol

[@PeteDei]

All great but I don’t think they are in the same league as buddy rich as far as a solo goes

[@jiyujizai]

😀💙🌱🥀

[@dt9r]

Elvin for ever

[@sumtin05698]

came in here expecting Elvin to kinda win this even though they are all fckin legends, but i’ll be damned if Art Bu Blakey didn’t just lowkey eviscerate them… once again yea it’s not a competition but it is quite literally a drum battle so that’s just my opinion

[@awilywolf]

It's weird... If I try to hear the unspoken beats, I can hear the rhythm. But, If I try to just listen, it kinda clashes with my sense of rhythm, breakbeat or not. I feel stupid, lol, but, sometimes I can hear something close to rhythmic progression, other times, i just hear incomprehensible noise.

[@JesseOnThaDrums]

Drum solos dont have to follow a beat

[@amugen]

These lucky people were treated to an extraordinary feast of drumming.

[@charleskendall6401]

2nd guy, that's pretty impressive if that was all single strokes

[@JesseOnThaDrums]

Its doubles

[@AlexWyattDrums]

@@JesseOnThaDrums It's a mixture of singles, doubles, and paradiddles. It depends which phrase. A lot of Max's fastest stuff was indeed all singles, but he had a lot of different patterns that used different sticking.

[@jiyujizai]

🙄💙🌼🌱

[@alhoward6514]

Elvin J all the way.

[@larrbrown7277]

Mr clean.

[@brandonhowell4512]

Elvin Jones ftw.

[@DameyunHenry-fr7jl]

THE REAL BATTLE WAS BETWEEN MAX ROACH vs BUDDY RICH THEY WERE 2 OF THE FASTEST DRUMMERS IN THE WORLD

[@itsmebeter3538]

art blakey was ascending

[@gilbertmoreno7993]

They all rocked before there was rock. You can hear much they influenced the later generations.

[@countycricklewood]

Traditional way of holding the sticks

[@Savinu_Chamadith]

Max Roach's drumming is magnificent, but here his polite was gone wild, he didn't wait till Elvin stop his solo. That's horrible :(

[@michaelEvans-zo4lt]

It seems to me that Elvin was winding down so Max could come in. Three of my favorite drummers. Thanks for posting.

[@brucescott4261]

@michael Evans ...Correct!

[@U2WB]

Max sits down and in 10 seconds owns Elvin.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Suit and tie is better for performances. Sixties brought in bad habits.Still good playing all around

[@montysonful]

they all look like toy drum sets compared to what's used today

[@deanchapman1824]

😂 they do!!! Just goes to show, you don't need those big kits on order to play great!!!

[@navyflyer7465]

Elvin Jones is out of his League. He's from a different era of drumming then Max and Blakey. That's how come he was made to go first.

[@luisn642]

What do you mean? Max Roach was born only three years before Elvin. It’s not the era, just the style.

[@goesjem]

@@luisn642 The only difference is that Elvin started playing much later. Art, Max and Elvin are the holy trinity of jazz drummers. They gave so much to the art and all had unique styles and sounds. Give me those three over Buddy Rich any day. They are full of dynamics, melody and musicality. Not just showing off. You see how much space they leave. Buddy was great, but just filled space with 32nd and 64th notes. Sometime one note means everything!

[@Nissardpertugiu]

@@goesjem the machine gun buddy was mainly in short clips on tv show. In his own stuff that was quite different. Later on he did, similar to Elvin, some abstract solos , including some entirely in Match grip ! As opposite to the popular opinion.

[@Nissardpertugiu]

@@goesjem also he s doing not at all busy in the album with Allah rakkha

[@upyours574]

Musical drums. How it should be.

[@anthonygilmore5969]

Wow....had always been a huge max roach fan but blakey destroyed it. Art has more texture and purpose....max concentrates on speed and power only.

[@edellis7691]

Elgin Jones. Stamp collecting in his future. Art Blakey better. Max Roach…I feel sorry for the audience Max. Lol Buddy…god!!!!!!

[@pp_h]

a lot of this i didn't like. but there were some good parts like then the third guy went on stage, he had a pretty good start.

[@ettorelachina3587]

I think: respect, they made the way (but… overtaken drumming, some modern drummer makes music even in solo, not just drumming)

[@ettorelachina3587]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZXQo6uQibyGmtU

[@imamba1]

At the risk of being ridiculed, I can honestly write that while there is no denying their superb technique, I didn't like any of them in this video. I couldn't tsp my feet to this kind of drumming and if I can't do that, then its just noise. It don't mean a thing if it ain't gogt that swing. That's a fact.

[@robertlepper5460]

No it merely shows your narrow understanding of black classical music

[@SuperLocrian]

Art Blakey walks onstage... John Bonham 👂

[@strettoasino9006]

Jazz drummer's do more with less...by having more talent too start with...

[@stephenjoseph1346]

Ginger took on Art And Elvin.who does that and Survived? Ginger

[@robertoricci3393]

@Andy Butler Baker overrated? He created the rock drum solo and pioneered afrobeat music, just to name some of his contributions. Playing rolls and paradiddles at 250 bpm doesn't necessarily make you a legend. Baker was the Cream drummer for barely 4 years, his career lasted almost 50 years. Listen to "Sunrise on the Sufferbus" by Masters of Reality and maybe you'll realize how amazing Baker was.

[@earthorigins3509]

Elvin Jones is mediocre at best. He is not creative whatsoever and boring too.

[@durfdurffigan8680]

Normie

[@Cartmanisntfat1]

??? go listen to any of his music lmao your ears are the issue not his playing

[@martinkent_]

Go back to blast beats

[@Cartmanisntfat1]

u talkin about me 😳

[@dt9r]

You re kidding, right?

[@tapski1]

Wow