As we have already informed, Jack DeJohnette passed away on the 26th of October. The sad news was announced on Mr. DeJohnette’s social media a day later:
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.
Below are some of the tributes from Mr. DeJohnette’s industry peers and friends. All of them heartfelt, some of them really touching.
Sabian Cymbals: With a heart full of gratitude we bid farewell to our dear friend and creative partner Jack DeJohnette. Our condolences to his wife Lydia and family. We learned so much from Jack creating instruments with him. Watching him play was pure poetry in motion.
Sonor Drums: Today we have to say goodbye to a friend, a true giant of jazz and SONOR Artist since 1972. Jack DeJohnette – drummer and visionary continues to influence generations of drummers around the world to this day and for all time. With his playing, he created worlds of sound and feeling. Whether with Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett or in his own projects, Jack combined power with depth, groove with soul, virtuosity with heart. His music remains alive, inspiring and boundless. Thank you, Jack, for everything you gave us. Your rhythm continues to resonate within us. Our thoughts are with you Jack, your family, your friends and companions.
Aquarian Drumheads: Jack DeJohnette was a musical giant, legend and hero who inspired and influenced numerous drummers throughout his lifetime. Many of our other drumming heroes and legends would not play the way they do if not for Jack’s legacy. Jack will be greatly missed but the body of music he leaves behind for us will help to heal our loss and keep him alive in our hearts and minds. Aquarian extends it’s deepest sympathies and condolences to the DeJohnette family.
Vic Firth: With heavy hearts, we at Vic Firth mourn the passing of our dear friend and legendary artist, Jack DeJohnette, who left us on October 26, 2025, at the age of 83.
Jack was a jazz icon whose limitless expression and soulful rhythms reshaped the world of percussion. His legacy resonates in every beat he played and in the countless lives he touched through his music.
Legends who leave such a profound mark on drumming and music itself are rare. Jack DeJohnette was rarer still—a legend whose influence will echo for generations. Born in Chicago in 1942, he started with the piano and then added drums to his musical palette before joining fellow giants like Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Miles Davis. His work on Bitches Brew and with his own ensembles like Special Edition wove innovation into tradition, blending his Seminole and Crow heritage into rhythms that spoke universally.
Jack’s music embodied boundless creativity, quiet mastery, and a swing that could make the stars align. Rest easy, Jack. You will be forever missed.
Your Vic Firth Family
ECM Records (Mr. DeJohnette’s record label since the 1970s): Rest in peace Jack DeJohnette. He was one of the key musicians for me when I started listening jazz. I remember the Changeless album of Keith Jarrett which he played with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. I listened this album countless times. And the others: Inside Out, Whisper Not, The Cure and the unbelievable Bye Bye Blackbird. DeJohnette played with other jazz musicians as well. John Surman, Terje Rypdal, Ralph Towner, Charlie Haden and the fantastic Gateway albums which he played with John Abercrombie and Dave Holland. I was lucky to listen him live in Istanbul with John Surman and also in London with Keith Jarrett trio. He was the master of drums. What a big loss for jazz. You will always be remembered Mr DeJohnette.
Charles Lioyd: Out of the blue sometime in 1965, Jack called me… “I want to play with you, man.” I had not heard him play yet and was told he was “from the street” and would be too loud. Eventually, we met up and early in 1966 the quartet with Keith, Jack, and Cecil coalesced with a concert at the Left Bank Jazz Society in Baltimore – a spectacular galaxy opened up. Our first recording “Dream Weaver” came out in 1966. Jack DeJohnette was a natural, intuitive musician and a great, great drummer. I’ll take the street he comes from any day of the year. Jack brought the street and his own inner, very personal, purposeful vision to every sound he made. Always for the greater good of the Universe. He was a Master. My condolences to Lydia and his family. Barche Lamsel dear friend. Om shanti shanti shantihi
Herbie Hancock: I first met Jack when he was about 20. I brought him on as a bass player, not realizing he was usually hired as a drummer, but I already had a drummer.
I learned in time that what Jack really wanted was to be a piano player. He always played the drums with a pianist’s sense of melody, color, and harmony.
Jack responded to whatever I played with a depth of understanding and sensitivity that was completely his own. I’ll never forget the concerts we played in Montreal with Dave Holland, some of the trio performances I’ve been most proud of.
I will miss him every day, but he remains in my heart as a great friend, artist, and human being. I have deep admiration for Jack and his wife Lydia. My heart goes out to Lydia and the DeJohnette family, to whom I send my sincerest condolences.
John Scofield: It’s hard to lose Jack DeJohnette. He was a good friend and mentor to me. I learned so much about the music in our several endeavors together. He was the best. He will be missed and we can all be grateful for the recorded history of Jack’s music. Susan and I send our condolences to Lydia, Minya, Farrah and Ben.
It’s been a hard few weeks. Al Foster, Jim McNeely, Anthony Jackson and now Jack. RIP my friends.
Steve Smith: Jack DeJohnette has been, and remains, one of the main musical influences and inspirations of my life. He was a gentle man yet a monster musician! Whenever I spent time with him, I watched and listened so carefully, trying to decode his unique and mystifying conception. He didn’t seem to follow any of the drumming rules I learned growing up; he had an approach and sound all his own. Jack would always have time to talk and to answer my questions over the years. He inspired me like no other and I found myself in an honored position to interview him and talk deeply about our careers and about our time playing SONOR DRUMS. How fortunate that the Sonor team had the idea to organize this special session, which was filmed just over a year ago on September 9, 2024. Jack’s unique and groundbreaking contributions will live on as we continue listening to his many wonderful recordings.
With deep love and respect,
Steve Smith
Vinnie Colaiuta: We just lost another titan and hero…a unique, superbly creative and beautiful musical voice. This man was such a huge influence on all of us. R.I.P. the MASTER Jack DeJohnette, whom I’m privileged to have even met. Photo from 2013 at the State Department, Washington, D.C
Source: www.facebook.com/vinniecolaiutaofficial
Peter Erskine: November 19, 1989. John Scofield has assembled a terrific band for his new album (“Time On My Hands”): Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette. We’re just about to record when the Dolby noise reduction system stops working, forcing an all-tech-hands-on-deck scenario while the musicians are now forced to wait. And wait. And wait. And John is about to send the band home for the day when Jack sits down at his drums and begins mesmerizing everyone in the studio with an impromptu but completely amazing history of jazz drumming. He’s taking it ALL the way back home to the beginning and bringing it ALL the way back up to the now … and we can’t record it because the board is out of commission while the technical problem is being fixed, but I’ll never forget this display of mastery from him … more than that, this display of his LOVE for the instrument and for music and for musicians, his love for his art and his love for his fellow creative souls. He was always a drumming hero to me, but I looked at him differently from that day on, a man more akin to a musical sensei: a truth-seeker and a truth-giver. How we shall all miss him! Condolences to the DeJohnette family.
Bill Bruford: I’m tremendously saddened to hear of the death of Jack DeJohnette, one of the greatest drummers that has ever lived. My heart goes out to Lydia and his family.
We first crossed paths in the kaftan-and-beads era in New York City around 1972, when YES’ star was rising fast. Jack’s fusion band ‘Compost’ was managed by Yes’ manager, so Jack had the support slot on some big NYC show. Little did I know then what a monster he was to become, and what an impact he would have among musicians of all stripes.
He and Lydia later invited me to his house in Woodstock NY when I was working up there with David Torn: we had a grand evening of food, chit-chat and drum stuff.
“I think the challenge for musicians is to have the courage to maintain their own voice”, Jack told pianist George Colligan, (cited in All About Jazz). “I think musicians have to be more courageous. It’s your voice, you know?”
I love that. The musician already has a voice. She just has to make it clearer. Jack’s voice rang clear as a bell to me and so many others. Thank heavens we have recordings of it to treasure for years to come. Farewell, Jack.
Tommy Igoe: This one stings. During my 10 year tenure at @birdlandjazz I got to see Jack pretty often and he would come in and check out the band before his sets. He was a great guy and always very kind to me even though I was an awe being in his presence.
When he would watch the band he would sit at the bar and I would see him over there -and I always got so excited that he was even in the room. I always had to introduce him and he would always say “stop doing that man I just wanna hang out!” Ha’. but I couldn’t help it! I mean, it’s Jack!!!!!! I got some pictures of us together. I’ll see if I can dig them out.
Terri Lyne Carrington: No words…. Can’t explain the profound nature of it all. You will be missed. Thank you….
Nate Smith: back in the spring of 2001, just a few months before i moved to new york city, my drums and cymbals were stolen from my car in VA. when i arrived in new york and (re)connected with Dave Holland (i’d met him at VCU in Richmond three years earlier) i told him about my ordeal and he generously loaned me his old Gretsch round badge kit. when i told him about my cymbals, “Call Jack!” he said! nervously, i did.
i’d met Jack a few years earlier, first at Betty Carter’s memorial and then at a Betty Carter tribute concert. when i called him, we spoke for about an hour and he played me a bunch of different cymbals (over the phone!). a week or so later, i came home to a box of factory-fresh cymbals, literally worth thousands of dollars, left at my door.
the next time i saw Jack, at a festival in Europe, i thanked him for his generosity. “you owe me $15 for shipping!” he quipped — and walked away smiling.
god bless him.
Antonio Sanchez: The passing of any music legend is hard to swallow, but this one is especially difficult to process.
Jack’s death hits home in a profound way because I was incredibly lucky to have spent personal time with him and his lifelong partner, Lydia, both in Havana, Cuba, and at their home in upstate New York. Those experiences changed me — as a musician and as a human being.
Maybe someday I’ll share those stories. For now, all I can say is that getting to hang out with my musical hero and realizing he was also cool as hell was a freaking beautiful thing to experience.
It’s impossible to put into words what Jack represented — as a musician, an innovator, and a human being.
He was always the creative eye of the hurricane, no matter the context. He effortlessly opened magical avenues for countless musicians to glide through, while simultaneously challenging and pushing them to reach higher.
He’s left a crater in our musical landscape that’s simply impossible to quantify. Just impossible.
And the music — the staggering amount of true, timeless music he left behind — it’s mind-blowing how one person can leave such a deep mark on our world.
Jack quite literally marched to his own drum.
Even among legends, most musicians have recognizable licks or patterns that define their sound — but Jack was different. He was almost impossible to imitate because patterns were not part of his ethos. He was always striving to exist purely in the moment — always present. You could try to capture his aura, his energy, his sound, but there were no recurring formulas to grab onto.
I once asked him how he did it, and he told me that every time he sat at the drums, he made a conscious effort not to repeat himself — even if that meant not always sounding his best.
The audacity and depth required to actually live by that principle, night after night for decades, is something very few can even comprehend.
He was so singular that all you needed to say was his first name — and everyone instantly knew the sound and energy you were referring to. That’s no easy feat.
Rest in peace, dear Maestrísimo Jack. What an honor it was to know you personally — not just as a musician, but as a human being. You will be forever missed.
Dear Lydia, my thoughts are with you — always.
Michael Shrieve: One of the GOATS of the Drums passed away today. RIP Jack DeJohnette. To describe how much he influenced and inspired me would take some time. I considered him a friend, and a true inspiration. He graced my last album, Drums of Compassion with his presence, (along with the recently passed Zakir Hussain) and his playing directly influenced my playing on a number of Santana recordings, including Caravanserai. With my fellow drummers Lenny White, Mike Clark, David Garibaldi and Greg Errico, we had the pleasure of having a wonderful, joyous, humorous conversation with Jack on our Youtube channel ‘On The Corner with The StickPeople. Here’s that interview:
Gary Husband: Always masterful and so fresh, Jack DeJohnette trades with Pat Metheny and Christian McBride, Monterey Jazz Festival in 2012. Someone remarked that Jack said he always tried to play with fresh creation & tried to not ever repeat himself. That’s as inspirational as it gets!
Todd Sucherman: RIP Jack DeJohnette. One of the most original and important voices on the drums. Thanks for your trailblazing music.
John DeChristopher: Another pioneer of the instrument has left the building at age 83. Pioneer, Trailblazer, Innovator… Just a few words that describe the incomparable Jack DeJohnette. I didn’t know Jack/work with him, but I met him several times throughout the years, as is the case in the drum business.
The last time I saw him perform was at PASIC 2009 and it’s etched in my memory. He sat down behind his drums and played for 50 minutes. Just him. Not a drum solo. It was music. 2,500 people watched transfixed. I was one of them. When he finished, it was like the entire room collectively exhaled. Incredible. Unforgettable.
Over the weekend, Steve Smith sent me a link to a video of him and Jack celebrating Sonor’s 150th anniversary, filmed just last month. Check it out… Rest in Power, Jack.
Gergo Borlai: I just saw that one of the greatest musicians in music history has passed away, Someone who could only be compared to himself. Jack DeJohnette wasn’t just one of the most inspiring drummers ever — I loved his solo albums. I loved the way he played piano, I loved his compositions, and I loved how, in the ’80s (in his forties), he was so eager to explore and keep up with the trends. Those solo records hit incredibly hard, endlessly modern grooves from a flawless jazz drummer. And then realizing how timeless his work truly is. A huge loss.
Adam Deitch: During my time with John Scofield he recommended i get into Jack Dejohnettes style of playing to break me out of the “funk box” I was into. I needed to open up and get free-er. I dove super heavy and learned so much about interaction, dark cymbal sounds, trading phrases and using doubles not totally “in the grid”. All of that studying helped me KEEP that gig for 3 years and 3 records. I grew up playing piano almost as much as drums and I learned he was a very dope pianist, doing solo piano gigs till his last days. Jack dug it all. Funk, swing, Latin, avant garde, meditational music and probably tons more genres of music. To call him a “jazz drummer” is a huge understatement. RIP to a true master of the drumset.️
Kurt Rosenwinkel: Rest in Peace the one and only, the great innovator of music on the drums Jack DeJohnette. Your sound, feel, intuition and imagination have informed my musical conception deeply. Thank you for the music and inspiration. Condolences to the family and friends.
Joe Lovano: Jack DeJohnette’s untimely passing has left me numb. I want to send my love and condolences to his wife, Lydia, and everyone in his family. He touched us all with his inspired, brilliant execution and creative musical genius. Having his embrace through the years has made me the player I am today and will continue to fuel my ideas into all of my tomorrows. RIP
Vernon Reid (Living Colour): Rest In Power to the GOAT. Jack DeJohnette – the incredible drummer, pianist, & composer, whose influence & importance to Jazz, and contemporary improvised music can not be overstated. @LivingColour offers heartfelt condolences to his family, fellow musicians, friends & fans
John Patitucci: We love you Jack and our hearts are heavy with sadness, but filled with Love and gratitude for YOU! You are a hero and were a mentor to me and so many. I am eternally grateful for the last 35 years that you encouraged, inspired and taught me. Playing with you was an incredible gift. Thank you for introducing Danilo to me and saying that we should play together too. Sachi and I are sending all of our love and praying for Lydia and your whole family. There aren’t enough words to express our love and gratitude for you.
Bruce Hornsby: Jack DeJohnette led a life of integrity, intensity, empathy and a deep commitment to musicality, collaboration, and love for humanity. I discovered him as a key contributor on so many records during my early immersion into the jazz world; Bill Evans At Montreux, Charles Lloyd’s “Forest Flower”, Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew” and “Live-Evil”, his ECM duo record with Keith Jarrett, Kenny Wheeler’s “Gnu High”, McCoy, Herbie and Chick records, his own solo records, and later, records with Pat Metheny and the long-standing trio with Keith Jarrett and Gary Peacock. It’s quite possible that no one in the jazz world has a more comprehensive and extensive list than Jack; what an amazing musical life he led!
From the late ‘90s on, whenever I would run into Jack and Christian McBride, the ridiculous bassist, they would say to me “ok man, when’s the hit?”, meaning “when are we going to make something together?” I would always reply “when I feel like I’ve developed some ideas about how to make a jazz record that has its own voice, its own, hopefully original way of dealing with the piano trio musical area.” Several year later I called them up and sent them my attempts. They responded, together in a conference call, with great enthusiasm, but with the caveat “but you need to get this music under your fingers more solidly!” They were of course, correct, and I went deep into the woodshed for the next four months to get ready.
They came to Williamsburg, and sessions were a joyous affair. The album “Camp Meeting” was released in 2007, and we played several concerts to support it, including the Newport Jazz Festival, The Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in LA, and the last and best gig of all at City Hall Park in NYC.
We all stayed in touch and played more together through the years; Jack at our Funhouse Festival, and Christian with our band at Town Hall two years ago.
I will always cherish those experiences. Jack DeJohnette was a true original, a beautiful soul, and inspiring musical role model for me and many, many, many others.
One day we were sitting around talking music and musicians and someone said “I think that guy kind of phones it in sometimes.” Jack replied, “I will never do that. Every time I play, I freaking mean it.” That says it all.
John Medeski: Been just sitting with this for a few days. It’s hard to fathom that Jack Dejohnette has left the planet. One of the grand masters in human history. Jack is literally in the fabric of so many musicians.
Getting to record and tour with him is one of the greatest honors of my life.
His unparalleled creativity, free spirit, and penetrating musicality elevated every situation he played in.
So much intelligence, soul, curiosity, generosity, groove magically wrapped up in artistry and mastery is truly mind blowing. Thank you Jack for blowing our minds and lighting our hearts. It’s forever!
