Paul Motian
March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011
Paul Motian was a gifted jazz drummer who first came to prominence as part of Bill Evans’ influential trio with whom he played from 1959 to 1964. He went on to play with a who’s who of jazz greats including Paul Bley, Keith Jarrett, and Charlie Haden to name a few. Beginning in the early ’80s, Motian fronted his own trio that included Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano. He released over 30 albums over the course of his career. Paul Motian was 80 when he died of a bone marrow disorder on November 22, 2011.