A Live Performance Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Elvin Jones’s Passing at New York’s Popular Club "Smalls" 

Jazz Life | Tokyo Calling Special
November 11, 2024
Photo & Text by Takehiko Tokiwa

In 2022, I resumed filming at the Detroit Jazz Festival in New York, spending about half a month from the end of August to the beginning of September. The jazz scene in New York has seen some major changes since the pandemic, yet the situation remains unchanged, with many talented artists still vying for prominence. This time, I would like to report on a live performance by veteran drummer Tony Moreno, held at the popular jazz club "Smalls" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvin Jones’s passing.

At Age 11, Inspired by Elvin Jones, He Began His Journey into the World of Jazz

New York-based Tony Moreno was born to a classical harpist mother and grew up surrounded by music. He started playing drums at age 8 and met Elvin Jones at 11. The first live jazz performance he heard was a trio with Elvin Jones (ds), Jimmy Garrison (b), and Joe Farrell (ts), and the impact of that experience inspired Moreno to become a jazz drummer.

Elvin gifted Moreno his first drum set, and Moreno took private lessons from him for seven years, a period that profoundly shaped his musical journey. To Moreno, Elvin is like a musical father. While Moreno typically leads a trio and a quintet, this time he has assembled a special group of handpicked musicians.

Gene Perla (b) was a member of the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine in the ’70s and was the bassist with the deepest understanding of Elvin's music. Moreno, who had listened to many of Elvin's parts as a teenager, said he felt proud to be able to play with Perla.

"It was a pleasure to play with Chris Potter, one of the best tenor players of our time and a very busy man. He's a special guy," Moreno said. Originally, the plan was for Steve Wilson (as) to join and play two horns, but he ended up joining from the second set.

"Manuel Valera (p), my colleague who teaches in the jazz department at New York University, is a great player who was essential for this music. Elvin often played with conguero players, and I wanted to bring that same atmosphere, so I hired Mauricio Herrera (perc)," Moreno said of the carefully selected ensemble.

Elvin’s Spirit Still Lives On
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The setlist for the night featured songs Moreno remembers from the late '60s and '70s, when Elvin played them while Moreno was a teenager. The band opened with 'Brite Piece,' an original by Dave Liebman (ts.ss). Potter took the soprano solo, followed by Varela.

Valera, from Cuba, is not only well-versed in Latin music but also in contemporary jazz. Potter and Moreno trade off, with the song ending on Moreno's drumming approach, which carries a groove influenced by Elvin yet with delicate nuances. Perla's bass line, which once supported Elvin, provides perfect foundation, while Herrera’s congas further divide and accelerate the polyrhythms. Potter’s playing, reminiscent of John Coltrane, elevates the spirit and emotion of the saxophonists Elvin played with, channeling it through contemporary jazz techniques.
         
The first set concludes with a 16-bar 'EJ's Blues.'

Elvin once said, "Blues is like life," meaning we should find growth and change in the repetition of everyday life. This performance made us feel that Elvin's spirit is still alive in Moreno and the other musicians, even after 20 years.