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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBLACKWELL, Ed(b 10 December 1929, New Orleans; d 7 October 1992) Drummer. He played in the '40s with Plas Johnson, Roy Brown; went to Los Angeles '51; played with Ornette Coleman; with Huey 'Piano' Smith, toured with Ray Charles '57; to NYC '60, succeeded Billy Higgins in Coleman's quartet (LPs Science Fiction, Free Jazz, others). Played with John Coltrane and Don Cherry (The Avant Garde); duet LPs with Cherry (Mu First Part, Second Part); recorded with Eric Dolphy band live at the Five Spot '61; Dewey Redman (Tarik), Gato Barbieri, Archie Shepp, many others; also Coleman 'ghost band' Old and New Dreams (see ECM). His combination of roots and technique made him one of the best-known percussionists in free jazz. Tours of Africa with Randy Weston mid-'60s. Lived in Morocco '68; back with Coleman '70; taught at Wesleyan mid-'70s. |