It is a journey through time, music and people. Jack passed on at the age at the age of 83. He played music professionally at the age of 14 initially studying piano, eventually switching to drums as his principal instrument.
His professional career encompassed R&B, hard bop, avant-garde and world music. He had perfect pitch and was considered a complete musician. Not just a drummer or pianist.
Former UPAC director Chris Silva gave the background of final days of Jack’s artistic life which included a birthday celebration at this site and a debut acting at the nearby Woodstock Playhouse. Others shared reminisces on social media of Jack mentoring and encouraging them, this was in all genres.
Is should be note his widow Lydia DeJohnette insisted this be held in Kingston near their home instead of NYC, with all musicians and the theater donating the proceeds to local charities, The Family of Woodstock and The Table of Woodstock. Musicians were not reimbursed for travel or lodging.
Next door neighbor Pat Metheny, played a major role, both reminiscing and playing.
It would be impossible to completely cover his career in retrospect, but this concert gave a broad overview of Jack’s broad artistic vision and artistry.
There were 50 musicians who played and spoke in tribute including Bruce Hornsby from the pop music world. There were 12 sets of musicians that played a little over 3 hours . They included: Don Byron, Michael Cain, Will Calhoun, Terri Lyne Carrington, Denardo Coleman, Charles Tolliver, Steve Coleman, George Colligan, Ravi Coltrane, Marc Copland, Dave Fiuczynski, Bill Frisell, David Gilmore, Edsel Gomez, Larry Grenadier, Drew Gress, Jerome Harris, Billy Hart, Dave Holland, Bruce Hornsby, Joe Lovano, Linda May Han Oh, Rudresh Mahanthappa, John Medeski, Pat Metheny, Roscoe Mitchell, Jason Moran, Ra Kalam Bob Moses, David Murray, Greg Osby, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Luisito Quintero, Rufus Reid, Tim Ries, Wallace Roney Jr., John Scofield, Marvin Sewell, Wadada Leo Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Bill Stewart, Tani Tabbal, Charles Tolliver, Nasheet Waits. Many of whom had only infrequent peformances upstate.
The whole event started with the Teri Lynn Carrington playing a gong and ended with Roscoe Mitchell playing solo bass saxophone. Teri Lynn having been mentored by Jack and Roscoe being a colleague during Jack’s early days in Chicago.
The opening ensemble paid tribute to Jack’s one off salute to the Hudson Valley, the self titled “Hudson”. Teri Lynn Carrington sat at one of two drum kits that were Jack’s.
Other notable performances were a Bruce Hornsby medley with Bruce, Linda May Oh, Esperanza Spalding, John Scofield of “Camp Meeting”, “Un Poco Loco” and “Chant Song”, Charles Tolliver’s “Jackknife” featuring a 3 horn line up of Steve Coleman, Don Byron and David Murray, Joe Lovano et. al’s rendition of “Witchi Tai To”and the mesmerizing piece that is the title of this performance “Sound Travels”. There were other performances just as worthy. I will let the gallery speak for the concert as a whole.
Excerpts of Jack’s performances with Sonny Rollins and Betty Carter were shown on the stage’s wide screen.
The concert at a whole is still resonating with me and will be for some time.
Jack is still with us, instilling his love of the arts and nature.
