A singular presence across the last half century of jazz, Jack DeJohnette first came to prominence through the 1960s success of the Charles Lloyd Quartet. Since then his elemental playing has fired Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, his own solo projects and his longstanding work with the Keith Jarrett Trio. Celebrating his 70th birthday year he looks back on the riches of his work to date, and tells Stuart Nicholson why corporate greed is killing creativity today

When Jack DeJohnette celebrated his 70th birthday in August, it should have been a time to party as much as to reflect on a long and distinguished career during which he has been the drummer of choice for almost every major figure in contemporary jazz. But since his birthday, where celebrations began in January and show no sign of letting up, he has hardly had time to celebrate or reflect.

The year began by accepting an NEA Jazz Masters Award, America’s highest honour in jazz, in Washington, D.C. in January. “It was great,” he says down the line from his hotel room in Nice, France. “I was there with good friends of mine Von Freeman and Jimmy Owens who won jazz masters awards, as did Charlie Haden who couldn’t come, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra played something – what was great was Muhal Richard Abrams introduced me, as he was one of my mentors.”

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