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The world of jazz is mourning the loss of one of its greatest musicians, Jack DeJohnette, who passed away on October 26, 2025, at the age of 83. His record label, ECM, and his longtime assistant, Joan Clancy, confirmed the sad news. Jack died peacefully at Kingston Hospital in New York, surrounded by his wife, Lydia, and their family and friends. Fans and fellow musicians across the globe have since paid heartfelt tributes to the two-time Grammy-winning drummer, celebrating his unmatched creativity and influence in shaping modern jazz.
According to his assistant, Joan Clancy, Jack DeJohnette passed away due to congestive heart failure after being admitted to the hospital. His management team shared a statement on his official Instagram, saying, “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Jack DeJohnette. He died peacefully in Kingston Hospital, NY. He was surrounded by his wife, family, and close friends. Jack was a NEA Jazz Master. His legacy will live on.”
Born in 1942, Jack DeJohnette was more than just a drummer, he was a composer, pianist, and visionary who could blend genres like no one else. Over his long and extraordinary career, he worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock. His dynamic and fluid drumming style helped shape the sound of modern jazz from the late 1960s onward.
Jack joined Miles Davis’s live band in 1969, replacing Tony Williams, and played a major role in creating the revolutionary fusion sound heard on Davis’s Bitches Brew. His rhythmic inventiveness and openness to experimentation made him one of the most respected musicians of his generation.
For more than two decades, he was also part of the famous Standards Trio alongside pianist Keith Jarrett and bassist Gary Peacock. The group became beloved by jazz fans worldwide for their elegant performances and reinterpretations of classic songs. Beyond that, Jack led several of his own bands, including Directions, New Directions, and Special Edition, each known for its fresh, genre-crossing sound. Over his lifetime, he released more than 50 albums, each one showing a new side of his creativity.
Though best known for his drumming, Jack was also an accomplished pianist, having started piano lessons at the age of four. His deep musical understanding allowed him to approach rhythm and melody in a way that few others could, giving his work both complexity and soul.
Jack is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lydia DeJohnette, who also served as his manager, and their two daughters, Farah and Minya. Before marrying Lydia, he was briefly married to Deatra Davenport. He was the only child of Jack DeJohnette Sr. and Eva Jeanette (Wood) DeJohnette, and was raised mainly by his grandmother, Rosalie Anne Wood.
Jack DeJohnette’s passing marks the end of an era in jazz. His music, filled with warmth, innovation, and spirit, continues to inspire generations of musicians and listeners alike. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and everyone touched by his remarkable life and art.