The drummer and composer Paul Motian died early this morning, his record label ECM Records has confirmed. He was 80. Motian was known for his probing, askew sense of swing. Though best remembered for his work in Bill Evans' trio of the late 1950s and early '60s, he also enjoyed a professional career which lasted nearly 60 years, and encompassed many different settings, from Keith Jarrett's quartet to backing Arlo Guthrie. In the 1970s, he began recording and performing as a bandleader, exhibiting a distinctive compositional voice. NPR
