Elvin Jones’ Cymbal Collection Elvin Jones was one of the most influential, inspirational, and beloved jazz musicians of all time. Few artists have touched the world as deeply as he did. Though I only briefly met Elvin a couple times, both encounters were profound and started me on a path that continues to unfold today. I’d heard stories about Elvin’s legendary drum collection for many years. It was like an urban myth. Many people had heard about a separate New York apartment where Elvin stored his drums, but very few had actually seen it. Supposedly, he had every piece of drum gear he’d ever owned in that space. I often wondered about what might be stored there, but I never dreamed that someday I would be standing right in the middle of it. Shortly after Elvin passed in 2004, his longtime friend Gregg Keplinger called me from New York. Elvin’s […]

August 2020 Issue