Regarded as one of the most innovative drummers in jazz history, he was a member of the classic coltrane quartet:

Elvin Jones was one of the most prominent jazz drummers in the second half of the 20th century. He played with John Coltrane from 1960 to 1966 as a member of the John Coltrane quartet and earned praise for his innovative approach, experimenting with polyrhythms and variations. He is one of the first drummers to redefine the role of the rhythmic section of a band: as a drummer, he would most often imply the tempo rather than follow it.