Mike Clark: Elvin Jones Interview pt.1

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Mike Clark pays tribute to drummer/bandleader Elvin Jones. pt1

[@AndyPutt1]

Mike Clark... I can't even put into words how great this guy is.

[@guitarman6742]

You could start by spelling his last name correctly. That would be Clark.

[@AndyPutt1]

@@guitarman6742 Thankyou my friend My Mistake! I have transcribed many of his drum parts which over the years I've adapted to my own repertoire- that certainly gives something of an insight into his ability!

[@Playthellgb42]

A wonderful raconteur, a living archive of jazz drumming...PRICELESS!!!

[@stevemaxmusic]

Thanks Mike it's always great to hear you pay tribute to the great drummers.....of which you are one!

[@AlexFillios]

we cant express the greatness of the great elvin jones

[@alvarocordova3664]

Nobody can't know more about drumming than another drummer. Elvin's wisdom is reflected in full blossom by Mike. They are both my drumming heroes.

[@williampinner1893]

That was awesome. Thanks Mike. You are a hero too.

[@paulfitterer5576]

Elvin Jones beautiful artist....so important...thanks Mike...all the best

[@wsgray]

Again, thank Mike and Ken - this is the real juice!

[@Drivethebeat]

1:23 Yup, "The Smiling Dog Saloon" WOW! I just returned to Cleveland and totally forgot about that club until this moment! Closed in 1976 I hear.

[@alexanderruiz6479]

this was an amazing story. thanks for sharing

[@JerryAttric42]

Herbie: "Jones wants to talk to you at the bar." Clark: "E-L-V-I-N Jones?!"

[@peterdegroff7318]

I first saw Elvin at Slugs mid March 1971. I believe Joe Farrell and Wilbur Little were the other members of the Trio. I remember George Coleman standing at the Bar, listening but he didn't sit in. Before Elvin hired Dave Liebman and Steve Grossman, he used to alternate with Joe,George and Frank Foster in a trio or quartet format. THe result was always great! I later met Elvin in February 1972 at Jack's Drum Shop in Boston. He was a great guy and really easy to talk with.

[@AndyPutt1]

Thanks! I love hearing this stuff.

[@bacobill]

Such a great interview thank you so much.. Now it's time for part 2 :)

[@St0phatred]

Elvin the master. RIP

[@michaelwosslert9524]

Exellent !

[@alanpecherer5705]

I saw Elvin a few times at Keystone in the 70's...and Mike's comment that '..he had no respect for the distance between his tom and the floor tom" is absolutely spot on. Elvin played definitely loud, but his speed was amazing.

[@drummer78]

This is great stuff. Anyone think Mike Clark resembles the late Jerry Orbach of "Law and Order" fame?

[@tiluriso]

Yes he does; quite a bit.

[@pneumatic00]

Keystone Korner was the jazz club I used to go to in the 70's and saw pretty much everyone from that era multiple times, maybe 40-50 times over the years. Cheap to get in, not very comfortable. Elvin was certainly among the most memorable players I saw, saw him multiple times. And Cecil Taylor...OMG, I remember walking out of there in a complete daze. Nobody had the vocabulary of Jones (and I'm not a drummer) nobody assembled drum hits and phrases the way he did. He *did* hit hard, he just brutalized the drums into saying what he wanted to say, the way he wanted to say it. I honestly can't think of another drummer I've ever seen who approached drums that way, with the possible exception of Mike Clark himself, whom I played with, briefly, around 1976. I'll probably catch a load of crap saying that, but if you think about it, both of them were able to make whatever noises their kits made and make compelling music out of them. They didn't set out playing a "Chicago shuffle" or a "Motown back beat" ....they hit their drums and made whatever sounds came out work with the music that was called for. In that way, Mike & Elvin share that approach.

[@karlkilcrease51]

Don't laugh, but I read that Mitch Mitchell attempted to play like Elvin behind Hendrix. Listen to his solos on the double album Electric Ladyland, the Elvin Jones influence is definitely there.

[@jacquelinewearn4789]

great

[@НиколайЕмельянрв]

👏👏👏👏👏‼💌🔔💐💐💐💐💐. Nik☝ Kursk☕

[@chrisscott6417]

What's up with the eyes? Testosterone abuse?