Last Updated on 2 hours by Vijay Kumar
Jack DeJohnette, the legendary jazz drummer, pianist, composer and band-leader, has died at the age of 83. He passed away on 26 October 2025 in Kingston, New York, due to congestive heart failure.
His family announced his death on Instagram, “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Jack DeJohnette. He died peacefully in Kingston Hospital, NY. He was surrounded by his wife, family, and close friends. Jack was a NEA Jazz Master. His legacy will live on.”
He is survived by his wife, Lydia DeJohnette, and their two adult daughters: Farah and Minya.
He was a pianist and drummer
Born on 9 August 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, DeJohnette began musical training as a classical pianist at around age four, but by his teens he had turned to drums and eventually became one of the most influential drummers in jazz.
Early beginnings
- His uncle, Roy Wood Sr. (a disc-jockey in Chicago), introduced him to jazz records; music and rhythm were a big part of his upbringing.
- He studied piano for many years, then joined his high school band on drums, developing a dual skill-set as pianist and drummer.
Rise to prominence
- In the mid-1960s, he became active in Chicago jazz circles, playing with avant-garde and hard-bop ensembles including members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).
- In 1966 he moved to New York, joined the Charles Lloyd Quartet (where he first worked with pianist Keith Jarrett).
- In late 1968 / early 1969 he joined Miles Davis’s electrified band, contributing to the groundbreaking fusion era – including the landmark album Bitches Brew.
Mature career & style
- DeJohnette developed a “multi-directional” drumming style: combining jazz tradition, rock/fusion energy, and free improvisation.
- Over the decades, he recorded as both a sideman and as a leader. As a leader, his early album was The DeJohnette Complex (1968) and many subsequent albums followed.
- His long-term collaboration with Keith Jarrett and bassist Gary Peacock in the “Standards Trio” is widely celebrated.
- He received major honors: in 2012 he was named a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master.
- Among his awards: two Grammy® Awards (one for Peace Time and later for Skyline) and many nominations.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
