Philly Joe 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

Early career

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 the 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

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 (1967–1969) 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

Jones toured with Bill Evans in 1976 and 1978, recorded for Galaxy in 1977–1979, 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

As leader/co-leader

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

With Chet Baker

  • Chet Baker in New York (Riverside, 1959) – rec. 1958
  • Chet Baker Introduces Johnny Pace with Johnny Pace (Riverside, 1959) – rec. 1958

With Sonny Clark

  • Cool Struttin' (Blue Note, 1958)
  • Sonny Clark Trio (Blue Note, 1958) – rec. 1957

With Miles Davis

With Kenny Drew

  • Kenny Drew Trio (Riverside, 1956)
  • Pal Joey (Riverside, 1958) – rec. 1957

With Bill Evans

  • 1958: Everybody Digs Bill Evans (Riverside, 1959)
  • 1959: On Green Dolphin Street (Milestone, 1995)
  • 1962: Interplay (Riverside, 1963)
  • 1962: Loose Blues (Milestone, 1977)
  • 1967: California Here I Come (Verve, 1982)
  • 1976: Quintessence (Fantasy, 1977)

With Art Farmer

  • Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce (Prestige, 1955)
  • Brass Shout (United Artists, 1959)

With Red Garland

  • Red's Good Groove (Jazzland, 1962)
  • Keystones! (Xanadu, 1977)
  • Crossings (Galaxy, 1978)

With Benny Golson

  • The Other Side of Benny Golson (Riverside, 1958)
  • Benny Golson and the Philadelphians (United Artists, 1958)

With Dexter Gordon

  • Dexter Calling... (Blue Note, 1961)
  • Landslide (Blue Note, 1980) – rec. 1961-1962

With Ernie Henry

  • Seven Standards and a Blues (Riverside, 1957)
  • Last Chorus (Riverside, 1956–1957)

With Elmo Hope

  • The Elmo Hope Trio (Blue Note, 1953)
  • Here's Hope! (Celebrity, 1961)
  • High Hope! (Beacon, 1961)
  • Homecoming! (Riverside, 1961)
  • Sounds from Rikers Island (Audio Fidelity, 1963)
  • The Final Sessions (Evidence, 1996) – rec. 1966

With Freddie Hubbard

  • Goin' Up (Blue Note, 1960)
  • Hub Cap (Blue Note, 1961)
  • Here to Stay (Blue Note, 1962)

With Bobby Hutcherson

  • Four Seasons (Timeless, 1985) – rec. 1983
  • Good Bait (Landmark, 1985) – rec. 1984

With Duke Jordan

  • Duke's Artistry (SteepleChase, 1978)
  • The Great Session (SteepleChase, 1981) – rec. 1978

With Abbey Lincoln

  • It's Magic (Riverside, 1958)
  • Abbey Is Blue (Riverside, 1959)

With Herbie Mann

  • Salute to the Flute (Epic, 1957)
  • Herbie Mann's African Suite (United Artists, 1959)

With Howard McGhee

  • The Return of Howard McGhee (Bethlehem, 1956) – rec. 1955. reissued as That Bop Thing (Bethlehem, 1978)

With Blue Mitchell

With Hank Mobley

  • 1957: Hank (Blue Note, 1957)
  • 1957: Poppin' (Blue Note, 1980)
  • 1961: Workout (Blue Note, 1962)
  • 1961: Another Workout (Blue Note, 1985)
  • 1963: No Room for Squares (Blue Note, 1964)

With Phineas Newborn Jr.

  • Phineas' Rainbow (RCA Victor, 1956)
  • A World of Piano! (Contemporary, 1961)

With Sonny Rollins

With Archie Shepp

  • Blasé (BYG Actuel, 1969)
  • Archie Shepp & Philly Joe Jones (America, 1969)

With Clark Terry

  • Serenade to a Bus Seat (Riverside, 1957)
  • In Orbit (Riverside, 1958)

With others

References

  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.