Edward Joseph Blackwell (October 10, 1929 – October 7, 1992) was an American jazz drummer, best known known for his work with saxophonist Ornette Coleman.

Biography

Blackwell was born in New Orleans on October 10, 1929. His career began there in the 1950s, where he played in a bebop quintet with pianist Ellis Marsalis and clarinetist Alvin Batiste and briefly toured with Ray Charles. The second line brass band music of New Orleans greatly influenced Blackwell's drumming style. He has also credited his inspiration for playing the drums to his time growing up trying to mimic and match the sounds of his older sisters tap dancing. He would use pots and pans, and old trash cans until he finally received his first drum. Blackwell first came to national attention as a member of Ornette Coleman's quartet around 1960, when he took over for Billy Higgins during Coleman's residency at the Five Spot Café in Manhattan. Blackwell became a pioneering free jazz drummer, fusing New Orleans and African rhythms with bebop. Blackwell later toured and recorded extensively with fellow Coleman veterans Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Dewey Redman, both individually and as the quartet Old and New Dreams. In 1973, Blackwell became an artist in residence at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. In 1981, Blackwell performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival, held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio, alongside Mark Helias, Carlos Ward, and Graham Haynes.

Death

After years spent battling kidney disease, Blackwell died on October 7, 1992, in Middletown. He was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame the following year.

Discography

As leader

With Old and New Dreams

As sideman

With Ray Anderson With Bill Barron With Karl Berger With Jane Ira Bloom With David Bond With Charles Brackeen With Anthony Braxton With Marion Brown With Ornette Coleman With Steve Coleman With Alice Coltrane With Don Cherry With Jayne Cortez With Stanley Cowell With Anthony Davis With Eric Dolphy **With Dewey Redman ** With Charlie Haden With Albert Heath With Clifford Jordan **With Joe Lovano ** With Jemeel Moondoc With David Murray With Art Neville With Yoko Ono With Hilton Ruiz With Archie Shepp With Bob Stewart With Mal Waldron With Wadada Leo Smith