Artist page · 04/07/2026

Elvin Jones

PontiacBorn in 1927Compilations Jazz / Blues7 vinyl albums
Elvin Jones, an American jazz drummer born in 1927 in Pontiac, Michigan, was a key figure from the 1950s through the early 2000s. He contributed to hard bop, post-bop, and avant-garde jazz.
Explore the discography The 3 must-haves
7Albums on Vinyles.com
889Discogs releases
94kLast.fm listeners

About

7 vinyl albums including Blue Note staples; original pressings from Germany & Japan tracked in real-time.

Elvin Jones carved a career as a highly influential jazz drummer, known for his powerful rhythmic innovations and versatility. His extensive work ranges from collaborations with John Coltrane in the 1960s to leading his own group, the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, well into the late 20th century. His 7 vinyl releases on labels including Blue Note and Impulse! showcase styles from post-bop to soul jazz, making his discography a rich field for collectors.

Audiophiles searching for notable pressings will find valuable original Blue Note albums from the early 1970s, alongside Japanese and German editions commanding attention for their scarcity and sound quality. Prices fluctuate widely, as reflected by several hundred copies listed and tracked on the market.

Discography

Elvin Jones discography

Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.

Power TrioNovus · 1991
1991
Power Trio
CD, Album
Studio
Trust In BlueDenon · 1988
1988
Trust In Blue
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Earth JonesPalo Alto Jazz · 1983
1983
Earth Jones
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Heart To HeartDenon · 1981
1981
Heart To Heart
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Super-SessionEnja Records · 1980
1980
Super-Session
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Very R.A.R.E.Trio Records · 1979
1979
Very R.A.R.E.
Vinyl, LP, 45 RPM, Album, Stereo
Studio
Giant StepsKing Records · 1978
1978
Giant Steps
Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo
Studio
RemembranceMPS Records · 1978
1978
Remembrance
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
MoonflowerTrio Records · 1978
1978
Moonflower
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Time CapsuleVanguard · 1977
1977
Time Capsule
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Summit MeetingVanguard · 1977
1977
Summit Meeting
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
The Main ForceVanguard · 1976
1976
The Main Force
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
TogetherVanguard · 1976
1976
Together
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
The Prime ElementBlue Note · 1976
1976
The Prime Element
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
New AgendaVanguard · 1975
1975
New Agenda
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
The Wide PointMPS Records · 1975
1975
The Wide Point
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
LivePM · 1975
1975
Live
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Is PM · 1975
1975
Is "On The Mountain"
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Live At The Village VanguardEnja Records · 1974
1974
Live At The Village Vanguard
Vinyl, LP, Album
Live
Hollow OutPhilips · 1973
1973
Hollow Out
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Mr. JonesBlue Note · 1973
1973
Mr. Jones
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Merry Go RoundBlue Note · 1972
1972
Merry Go Round
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Live At The LighthouseBlue Note · 1972
1972
Live At The Lighthouse
Vinyl, LP, Album
Live
GenesisBlue Note · 1971
1971
Genesis
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
CoalitionBlue Note · 1971
1971
Coalition
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Poly-CurrentsBlue Note · 1970
1970
Poly-Currents
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
The UltimateBlue Note · 1969
1969
The Ultimate
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Heavy SoundsImpulse! · 1968
1968
Heavy Sounds
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Midnight WalkAtlantic · 1967
1967
Midnight Walk
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Jazz In Concert At The Village GateRCA Victor · 1966
1966
Jazz In Concert At The Village Gate
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Live
And Then AgainAtlantic · 1965
1965
And Then Again
Vinyl, LP, Stereo, Album
Studio
Dear John C.Impulse! · 1965
1965
Dear John C.
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Rip, Rig & PanicLimelight · 1965
1965
Rip, Rig & Panic
Vinyl, LP, Stereo, Album
Studio
Together!Atlantic · 1964
1964
Together!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
ConflictContemporary Records · 1963
1963
Conflict
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Gretsch Drum Night At Birdland Vol. 2Roulette · 1961
1961
Gretsch Drum Night At Birdland Vol. 2
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Gretsch Drum Night At BirdlandRoulette · 1960
1960
Gretsch Drum Night At Birdland
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Motor City SceneUnited Artists Records · 1959
1959
Motor City Scene
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Paul Chambers QuintetBlue Note · 1958
1958
Paul Chambers Quintet
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Live At Village Vanguard Vol.1Stateside ·
Live At Village Vanguard Vol.1
Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo, Stereo
Live
Studio album Live / EP

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Elvin Jones's career.

01
Oriental Flower
·
02
Aisha (Ole Coltrane )
·
03
Dear John C.
·
04
Anthropology
·
05
Pretty Brown
·
06
Feeling Good
·
07
Half And Half
·
08
Raunchy Rita
Raunchy Rita
Heavy Sounds · 1968

The essentials

The 3 Elvin Jones albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 1968
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Heavy Sounds

An influential 1968 album blending soul-jazz and post-bop, featuring a 6-track lineup including fiery "Raunchy Rita" and "Summertime".

6 tracksStereoImpulse! labelMultiple pressings with high-value Japanese edition
Discover the album
#2 · 1971
Vinyl, LP, Album
Genesis

A post-bop album from 1971 with five extended tracks such as "P.P. Phoenix" and "Cecilia Is Love," originally released on Blue Note.

5 tracksBlue Note labelStereo LPMultiple pressings including German originals
Discover the album
#3 · 1973
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Mr. Jones

1973 release featuring modal post-bop jazz with 6 tracks including "One's Native Place" and the title track "Mr. Jones."

6 tracksBlue Note labelStereoGerman and US pressings available
Discover the album

Go further

Artists similar to Elvin Jones

Artists who share part of Elvin Jones's musical DNA.

Jackie McLean
Jackie McLean
Booker Ervin
Andrew Hill
Andrew Hill
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson
Archie Shepp
Archie Shepp
Bobby Hutcherson
Bobby Hutcherson
Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Elvin Jones

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

Elvin Jones took every concert as a new challenge, always pushing jazz drummer boundaries.
— Jazz musician ethos
01Label

Blue Note releases in early 1970s

Elvin Jones's albums "Genesis" (1971) and "Mr. Jones" (1973) were both released on the Blue Note label, an influential jazz imprint, with multiple original pressings available in Germany and the US.

1971-1973Blue Note
02Pressing

Rare Japanese pressing of 'Heavy Sounds'

The original 1968 Japanese pressing of "Heavy Sounds" on Impulse! offers one of the highest priced vinyl copies, frequently fetching up to 495 € with only a few copies for sale worldwide.

1968Japan
03Track

Signature track "Raunchy Rita"

"Raunchy Rita" is the opening track of "Heavy Sounds," clocking in at 11:34 minutes, showcasing Jones's dynamic drumming and sonic range in a soul-jazz context.

1968Heavy Sounds
04Live Album

Live performances captured on vinyl

Several live albums like "Live At The Lighthouse" (1972) capture Elvin Jones's energetic stage presence and improvisational skill, adding breadth to his vinyl catalog beyond studio recordings.

1972Live performance

Records by Elvin Jones

See all
Puttin' It Together - Front Cover

Puttin' It Together

Elvin Jones
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
UNIVERSAL MUSIC
From $37.22 2 offers
Heavy Sounds - Front Cover

Heavy Sounds

Elvin Jones
Free Jazz Jazz/Blues
Zest
From $27.99 1 offer
GENESIS/VINYLE ROSE - Front Cover

GENESIS/Pink Vinyl

Elvin Jones
Free Jazz Jazz/Blues
THIRD MAN RECORDS
From $54.99 1 offer
GENESIS - Front Cover

GENESIS

Elvin Jones
Jazz / Blues Compilations Compilations
THIRD MAN RECORDS
From $42.68 1 offer
Mr. Jones - Front Cover

Mr. Jones

Elvin Jones
Jazz / Blues Compilations Compilations
BLUE NOTE
From $18.00 1 offer
ELVIN - Front Cover

ELVIN

Elvin Jones
Bebop Jazz/Blues
Jazz Pictures
View details
Coltrane John / Coltrane's Sound - Front Cover

Coltrane John / Coltrane's Sound

John Coltrane
Bebop Jazz/Blues
Intermusic
View details
Illuminaton (180 Gram Pressing) - Front Cover

Illuminaton (180 Gram Pressing)

Elvin Jones
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
SCORPIO
View details
Coltrane John Quartet / Ballads - Front Cover

Coltrane John Quartet / Ballads

McCoy Tyner
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
Intermusic
View details
Coltrane John / Live at Village Vanguard - Front Cover

Coltrane John / Live at Village Vanguard

Reggie Workman
Jazz / Blues Compilations Compilations
Intermusic
View details
Coltrane John Quartet / Africa Brass - Front Cover

Coltrane John Quartet / Africa Brass

Reggie Workman
Contemporary Jazz / Cool Jazz/Blues
Intermusic
From $18.81 1 offer

Recommended accessories

To protect, store and clean your records.

All accessories

FAQ

FAQ

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

Who was Elvin Jones?

Elvin Jones was an American jazz drummer known for his work from the 1950s to the early 2000s, especially in hard bop and post-bop styles.

What are key Elvin Jones vinyl albums to collect?

Notable vinyl albums include "Heavy Sounds" (1968), "Genesis" (1971), and "Mr. Jones" (1973), mostly released on Blue Note and Impulse! labels.

Are there valuable Elvin Jones vinyl pressings?

Yes, original Japanese and German pressings from the late '60s and early '70s can command high prices, with some above 400 € on the collector market.

Where can I find original Elvin Jones vinyl pressings in France?

French collectors can search international platforms offering German and Japanese original pressings, often via specialty jazz record dealers.

What styles did Elvin Jones play?

Elvin Jones performed across hard bop, post-bop, avant-garde jazz, and soul-jazz, adapting his drumming to diverse settings and ensembles.

What is the typical format of Elvin Jones's vinyl releases?

His vinyl catalog mainly consists of LP albums in stereo, with some promo or mono pressings, especially in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

What are some notable Elvin Jones tracks to listen to?

Tracks such as "Raunchy Rita," "P.P. Phoenix," and "One's Native Place" highlight his dynamic percussion and compositional sense.

Did Elvin Jones lead his own bands?

Yes, he led his own groups like the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, performing and recording extensively beyond his work as a sideman.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

  • WP
    Wikipedia
    Encyclopaedic data and biography
    ↗
  • MB
    MusicBrainz
    Artist metadata, dates, type
    ↗
  • DG
    Discogs
    Discography, pressings and market prices
    ↗
  • LF
    Last.fm
    Listeners, plays, similar artists
    ↗
  • VC
    Vinyles.com
    In-house catalog, prices and availability
    ↗

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 04/07/2026