Elvin Jones
Drums Solo on
Summertime

About

Elvin Jones's drums solo is the last of four solos on this recording, following Steve Davis on acoustic bass. Spanning four choruses of the 16-bar form in D at a brisk 167 BPM with a swing feel, Jones's polyrhythmic drumming, in particular, provides a constantly shifting rhythmic landscape that pushes the other musicians to respond creatively. They extend the typical 16 bar form of Summertime to 22 bars by extending the last 2 bars into 8. Jones's drum solo showcases rhythmic creativity and dynamic control, using the full kit to create a compelling musical statement that transcends mere technical display.

Elvin Jones was 32 to 33 years old at the time.