About
Edward Joseph Blackwell (October 10, 1929 – October 7, 1992) was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Blackwell first came to national attention as a member of Coleman's quartet around 1960, when he took over for Billy Higgins during a 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.
Member of
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Old and New Dreams drums (drum set)
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Don Cherry Quartet drums (drum set)
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Jemeel Moondoc Trio drums (drum set)
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Ed Blackwell/Charles Brackeen Duo drums (drum set), eponymous
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The Ornette Coleman Quartet drums (drum set)
Discography
Live
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The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer
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The Key of Life
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The Montreal Tapes
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Eric Dolphy & Booker Little Remembered Live at Sweet Basil Vol. II - Fire Waltz
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Eric Dolphy and Booker Little Remembered Live at Sweet Basil
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Tamma with Don Cherry & Ed Blackwell
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Red and Black in Willisau
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At the Five Spot, Volume 1
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1980-02-16, Columbia University, NY
Links
Listen
Concerts
Founder
Also known as
Eddie Blackwell
Tags
- american
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- e0ee2a43-d7b9-4f99-88f4-c1b813eb98bf
- ISNI
- 0000000079997800
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 6 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.