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Philly Joe Jones

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Jo Jones.

Philly Joe Jones
Jones in 1960
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Rudolph Jones
Born(1923-07-15)July 15, 1923
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 30, 1985(1985-08-30) (aged 62)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1940s–1985

Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American jazz drummer.[1]

Biography

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Early career

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As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on The Kiddie Show on the Philadelphia radio station WIP.[2] He was in the US Army during World War II.[2]

In 1947 he became the house drummer at Café Society in New York City, where he played with the leading bebop players of the day, including Tadd Dameron. From 1955 to 1958, Jones toured and recorded with Miles Davis Quintet — a band that became known as "The Quintet" (along with Red Garland on piano, John Coltrane on sax, and Paul Chambers on bass).[3] Davis acknowledged that Jones was his favorite drummer,[3] and stated in his autobiography that he would always listen for Jones in other drummers.

From 1958, Jones worked as a leader, but continued to work as a sideman with other musicians, including Bill Evans and Hank Mobley. Evans, like Davis, also openly stated that Jones was his all-time favorite drummer.

Europe

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Jones in a 1964 Gretsch advertisement

Between late 1967 and 1972 Jones lived in London and Paris,[4] performing and recording with musicians including Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron and Hank Mobley.[5] For two years (1967–69) Jones taught at a specially organized school in Hampstead, London, but was prevented from otherwise working in the UK by the Musicians' Union. His 1968 album Mo' Joe (also released as Trailways Express)[6] was recorded in London with local musicians (including Peter King, Harold McNair, Chris Pyne, Kenny Wheeler and others).[7]

Later years

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Jones toured with Bill Evans in 1976 and 1978, recorded for Galaxy in 1977–79, and made studio and live recordings with Red Garland in 1977.[1] In 1981, Jones helped to found the group Dameronia, dedicated to the music of the composer Tadd Dameron, and led it until Jones' death from a heart attack in 1985.[2]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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Recording date Title / Co-leader Label Year released Notes
1958-09-17 Blues for Dracula Riverside 1958 Johnny Griffin on tenor sax
1959-05-04, -11, -28 Drums Around the World Riverside 1959 Benny Golson on tenor sax
1959-11-17, -18 Showcase Riverside 1959 Bill Barron on tenor sax
1960-05-20 Philly Joe's Beat Atlantic 1960 Bill Barron on tenor sax
1961-02-02 Together! with Elvin Jones Atlantic 1961 Hank Mobley on tenor sax
1968-10-01, -31 Trailways Express
also released as Mo Joe and Gone, Gone, Gone 		Black Lion 1971 Harold McNair on tenor sax & flute
1969-01-31,
1969-03-01 		Philly Joe Jones Avec Jef Gilson Et Son Ensemble with the Jef Gilson Ensemble Disques Vogue 1969
1969-07-18 Round Midnight Lotus 1980 Bent Jædig on tenor sax, Live
1969-11-29, -30,
1969-12-01 		Archie Shepp & Philly Joe Jones with Archie Shepp America 1969 Archie Shepp on tenor sax & piano
1977-04-06, -07 Mean What You Say Sonet 1977 Charles Bowen on soprano & tenor saxes
1977-11-29, -30,
1977-12-01 		Philly Mignon Galaxy 1978 Dexter Gordon or Ira Sullivan on tenor sax
1978-10-10 – -12 Drum Song Galaxy 1985 Harold Land & Charles Bowen on tenor sax
1978-10-10 – -12 Advance! Galaxy 1979 Harold Land & Charles Bowen on tenor sax
1981-06-19 Filet de Sole Marge 1992 Philly Joe Jones Octet
1982-06-28 To Tadd with Love Uptown 1982 Philly Joe Jones Dameronia
1983-07-11 Look Stop Listen Uptown 1983 Philly Joe Jones Dameronia featuring Johnny Griffin

As sideman

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With Chet Baker

With Sonny Clark

With Miles Davis

With Kenny Drew

With Bill Evans

With Art Farmer

With Red Garland

With Benny Golson

With Dexter Gordon

With Ernie Henry

With Elmo Hope

With Freddie Hubbard

With Bobby Hutcherson

With Duke Jordan

With Abbey Lincoln

With Herbie Mann

With Howard McGhee

With Blue Mitchell

With Hank Mobley

With Phineas Newborn Jr.

With Sonny Rollins

With Archie Shepp

With Clark Terry

With others

References

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  1. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Philly Joe Jones Biography". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Pareles, Jon (September 3, 1985). "Philly Joe Jones Dies at 62; Top Modern Jazz Drummer". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Carr, Ian; Priestley, Brian; Fairweather, Digby (2004). The Rough Guide to Jazz 3. Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1843532569.
  4. ^ "About Philly Joe Jones", MTV Artists.
  5. ^ "Philly Joe Jones Discography - session index", Jazzdisco.org.
  6. ^ "Philly Joe Jones – Trailways Express (aka Mo' Joe)", Dusty Groove.
  7. ^ "Philly Joe Jones: Mo' Joe – Credits", AllMusic.
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