Paul Motian

American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer (1931-2011)

Born: 25 March 1931
Philadelphia
Died: 22 November 2011
New York City
Country: United States
Active: 1954–
Record labels: ECM Records
Discography: 16 albums

Biography

Paul Motian was a jazz musician who played drum kit. Paul Motian was born on 25 March 1931 in Philadelphia and died on 22 November 2011 in New York City. The music is usually filed under jazz and free jazz. Record labels: ECM Records. The discography here lists 16 albums, from “Conception Vessel” (1973) to “The Windmills of Your Mind” (2011).

Stephen Paul Motian (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer of Armenian descent. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties. Motian first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, later was a regular in pianist Keith Jarrett's band for about a decade (c. 1967–1976), and began his career as a bandleader in the early 1970s. Perhaps his two most notable groups were a longstanding trio with guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano as well as the Electric Bebop Band, in which he worked mostly with younger musicians on interpretations of bebop standards.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Conception Vessel 1973 · ECM Records Tribute 1975 · ECM Records The Story of Maryam 1984 · Soul Note Circle The Line 1988 · GM Recordings Monk in Motian 1988 · JMT On Broadway, Volume 1 1989 · JMT Bill Evans 1990 · JMT On Broadway, Volume 2 1990 · JMT

Motian in Tokyo 1991 · Live

Paul Motian On Broadway, Vol. III 1991 · Sigma Sound Studios

Sound of Love 1997 · Live

Intérieur nuit 2001 I Have the Room Above Her 2005 · ECM Records Time and Time Again 2007 · ECM Records

Lost in a Dream 2010 · Live

The Windmills of Your Mind 2011 · Music Edition

Also plays on

Albums where Paul Motian is credited as a sideman

1957	New Jazz Conceptions — Bill Evans	drums (drum set)
1957	My Kind of Jazz — Tony Scott	drums (drum set)
1958	Warne Marsh — Warne Marsh	drums (drum set)
1959	Free Blown Jazz — Tony Scott, Jimmy Knepper	drums (drum set)
1960	Jazz Is a Kick — Bob Brookmeyer	drums (drum set)
1963	At Newport '63 — Martial Solal	drums (drum set)
1964	Trio 64 — Bill Evans	drums (drum set)
1964	Nirvana — Herbie Mann & The Bill Evans Trio	drums (drum set)
1966	Wild Man on the Loose — Mose Allison	drums (drum set)
1968	Life Between the Exit Signs — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set)
1970	Liberation Music Orchestra — Charlie Haden	drums (drum set), percussion
1971	The Mourning of a Star — Keith Jarrett	percussion, drums (drum set), congas
1971	Escalator Over the Hill — Carla Bley & Paul Haines	drums (drum set)
1972	Birth — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set), percussion
1973	Fort Yawuh — Keith Jarrett	percussion, drums (drum set)
1973	Relativity Suite — Don Cherry & The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra	percussion
1974	Treasure Island — Keith Jarrett	membranophone, percussion, drums (drum set)
1974	Tropic Appetites — Carla Bley	drums (drum set), percussion
1975	Death and the Flower — Keith Jarrett	percussion, drums (drum set)
1975	El Juicio (The Judgement) — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set), percussion, steelpan
1975	Backhand — Keith Jarrett	percussion, drums (drum set)
1976	Mysteries — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set), percussion
1976	Shades — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set), percussion
1976	“Closeness” Duets — Charlie Haden	percussion
1977	The Survivors’ Suite — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set), percussion
1977	Byablue — Keith Jarrett	drums (drum set), percussion
1978	Bop‐Be — Keith Jarrett	percussion, drums (drum set)
1979	Eyes of the Heart — Keith Jarrett	percussion, drums (drum set)
1981	Lifelines — Arild Andersen	drums (drum set)
1983	The Ballad of the Fallen — Charlie Haden & Carla Bley	drums (drum set), percussion

Films about Paul Motian

2020Motian in Motionfilm directed by Michael Patrick Kelly

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Paul Motian play?

Paul Motian is known for playing drum kit.

When and where was Paul Motian born?

Paul Motian was born 25 March 1931 in Philadelphia.

What are Paul Motian's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Conception Vessel (1973), Tribute (1975), The Story of Maryam (1984), Circle The Line (1988) and Monk in Motian (1988).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.