Since Jack DeJohnette's collaboration with Charles Lloyd Quartet in mid-sixties he's been engaged by Miles Davis to replace Tony Williams in Miles' band. A classical piano graduate, he was one of three drummers playing on Miles "Bitches Brew."

DeJohnette stayed with Miles for three years and then left to form his own band. Since then his musical career has been partitioned into work as a sideman (fitting into any kind of band) and as a leader of his own groups. The first of them is called Compost when Jack recorded for Columbia and then for Prestige.

When Jack moved to ECM he established the group Directions. The next one was New Directions with Lester Bowie and the last, Special Edition, was founded in 1979. Special Edition band lasted to the present despite the changes of musicians and music styles. Also the music changes itself - from an acoustic sound in the early days (with David Murray, John Purcell, Chico Freeman and others) to electric stuff in the 80s and today (with Gary Thomas, Greg Osby, Lonnie Plaxico and others).

In the early '70s DeJohnette worked as instant drummer for CTI Records. After making recordings with Freddie Hubbard, Joe Farrell, George Benson and other musicians working for CTI he moved to ECM Records where he stayed for ten years.

Jack's engagement with ECM Records from 1974 to 1984 seems to have been the most exciting of all. This cooperation is marked with ten solo albums and many sideman recordings (including widely known Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette trio).

His last ECM record called "Album Album" became "Album of the Year" in the Annual Down Beat Readers' Poll for 1985. Then he moved to Impulse/MCA and his albums reached the top. "Audio-Visualscapes" was "Album of the Year" in the in Annual "Down Beat Critics Poll" for 1989. "Parallel Realities" with Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock became a commercial success (Album of the Year in Japan). For more information on honoured albums see detailed list below. Bobby McFerrin.)

Jack DeJohnette's last three CDs are available from Blue Note records (last project for Blue Note titled "Extra Special Edition" features guest vocalist Bobby McFerrin.)

The last CD issued by Jack DeJohnette is called "Dancing With Nature Spirits."