Ed Blackwell
- Type: Influential Sideman
- Country: United States
- Born: October 10, 1929 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Died: October 7, 1992 in Hartford, Connecticut, United States
- Active: 1929 - 1992
Biography
A pioneering free jazz drummer, Ed Blackwell was celebrated for his central role in *Ornette Coleman's* quartet, where he debuted on the 1960 album 'This Is Our Music'. His revolutionary style was unique for its deep melodicism and its fusion of the 'street beat' rhythms of his native New Orleans with African percussive traditions. Rather than merely keeping time, Blackwell created a dancing, conversational pulse that was integral to the collective improvisation of Coleman's music. He was also a founding member of the acclaimed quartet Old and New Dreams, alongside fellow Coleman alumni *Don Cherry*, *Charlie Haden*, and *Dewey Redman*, releasing albums on labels like #ECM# and #Black Saint#.