Stephen Paul Motian (born 25 March 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in Providence, Rhode Island), is a American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction. He is one of the most influential modern drummers, having played an important role in freeing the drummer from strict time-keeping duties. His surname is Armenian, pronounced "Moe-tee-un," but is usually mispronounced like "motion". March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Nickname: Beehive of Industry, The Renaissance City Location in Rhode Island Coordinates: Country United States State Rhode Island County Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline (D) Area    - City 20. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form that originated around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in African American musical styles blended with Western music technique and theory. ... A session drummer at practice A drummer is a musician who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ...

He began playing the drums at age 12, eventually touring New England in a swing Band. During the Korean War he joined the Navy, which he left at the age of 24. Motian has been a professional musician since 1954, but he became well known as the drummer in pianist Bill Evans's trio (1959-64), initially with Scott LaFaro. Subsequently he has played with pianists Paul Bley (1963-4) and Keith Jarrett (1967-76). The states marked in red show New England. ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea United States United Kingdom Canada Australia The Netherlands France Philippines Communist states: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung Il Kwon Douglas MacArthur Mark W. Clark Matthew Ridgway Kim Il-sung Choi Yong-kun... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... William John Evans, (better known as Bill Evans) (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was one of the most famous jazz pianists of the 20th century; he remains one of the major influences on post-1950s jazz piano. ... Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936, Newark, New Jersey - July 6, 1961, Flint, New York) was one of the most influential jazz bassists of the 20th century. ... Paul Bley is a free jazz pianist born in Montreal in 1932 and long resident in the USA. His music characteristically features strong senses both of melodic voicing and space. ... Keith Jarrett, The Köln Concert Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American pianist and composer. ...

Motian has also become an important composer and band-leader, recording initially for ECM Records in the 1970s and early 1980s, and then subsequently for Soul Note Records, JMT Records, and then Winter & Winter Records. Since the early 1980s he has led a trio featuring guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano, occasionally joined by bassists Ed Schuller, Charlie Haden or Marc Johnson, and other musicians, including Jim Pepper, Lee Konitz, Dewey Redman and Geri Allen. In addition to playing Motian's compositions, the group has recorded tributes to Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, and a series of Paul Motian on Broadway albums, featuring original interpretations of standard tunes. ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is a record label founded in 1969 by Manfred Eicher. ... JMT Records was a label that specialised in contemporary jazz. ... Winter & Winter is a record label that specializes in jazz and improvised music. ... A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. ... William Richard Bill Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. ... A saxophonist is a musician who plays the saxophone. ... Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born 29 December 1952) is a jazz saxophonist and clarinet player. ... Paul Chambers, acclaimed jazz bassist A bassist is a musician who plays a double bass or electric bass (also referred to as bass guitar). ... Charles Edward Haden (born August 6, 1937) is a jazz double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. ... Marc Johnson, born in Omaha, Nebraska on 21 October 1953, is an American jazz bassist, composer and bandleader. ... Jim Pepper (b. ... Lee Konitz (born 1927 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz composer and saxophone player. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The cover of Geri Allens 2004 album The Life of a Song. ... Thelonious Monk, as featured on the cover of his 1956 album, Brilliant Corners (1958 reissue cover shown) Thelonious Sphere Monk (October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was a jazz pianist and composer. ... William John Evans, (better known as Bill Evans) (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was one of the most famous jazz pianists of the 20th century; he remains one of the major influences on post-1950s jazz piano. ... Jazz standard refers to a tune that is widely known, performed, and recorded among jazz musicians. ...

Despite his important associations with pianists, Motian's work as a leader since the 1970s has been noteworthy for rarely including piano in his ensembles and relying heavily on guitar. Motian's first instrument was the guitar, and he seems to have conserved an affinity for the instrument: in addition to his groups with Frisell, his first two solo albums on ECM featured Sam Brown, and he leads the Electric Bebop Band, featuring two electric guitars. The group was founded in the early 1990s, and has featured a variety of young guitar and saxophone players, in addition to electric bass and Motian's drums: Joshua Redman was the first player to occupy the saxophone chair. Steve Swallow was the bass player at one time. The group has subsequently expanded to feature two saxophonists; Chris Potter and Chris Cheek have both served in the EBBB. Joshua Redman (born February 1, 1969) is a prominent jazz saxophonist who records for Nonesuch Records. ... Steve Swallow (b. ... Chris Potter (born January 1, 1971) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. ...

Selected discography

As a leader

• Conception Vessel (1972)
• Tribute (1974)
• Dance (1977)
• Le Voyage (1979)
• 2000 + One (1999)

With Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell

• Psalm (1981)
• Jack of Clubs (1983)
• The Story of Maryam (1983)
• It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (1984)
• Misterioso (1985)
• One Time Out (1987)
• Monk in Motian (1988)
• On Broadway, Volumes 1-3 (1988-1993)
• Bill Evans (1990)
• Motian in Tokio (1991)
• Trioism (1993)
• Live at the Village Vanguard (1995)
• Sound of Love (1995)
• I Have the Room Above Her (2004)

With the Electric Bebop Band

• Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band (1992)
• Reincarnation of a Lovebird (1994)
• Flight of the Bluejay (1998)
• Plays Monk and Powell (1999)
• Europe (2001)
• Holiday for Strings (2002)
• Garden of Eden (2006)

With Bill Evans

• Portrait in Jazz (1959)
• Explorations (1961)
• Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)
• Waltz for Debby (1961)
• How My Heart Sings! (1962)
• Moonbeams (1962)

With Keith Jarrett

• Expectations (1972)
• Fort Yawuh (1973)
• Backhand (1974)
• Death and the Flower (1975)
• Shades (1975)
• The Survivor's Suite (1976)
• At the Deer Head Inn (1992)