Philly Joe Jones


Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones was an American jazz drummer, known as the drummer for the first "Great" Miles Davis Quintet. He should not be confused with "Papa" Jo Jones, another drummer who had a long tenure with Count Basie. The two men died only a few days apart.

Biography

Early career

As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on The Kiddie Show on the Philadelphia radio Station WIP. He was in the US Army during World War II.
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. Among them, the most important influence on Jones was Tadd Dameron. Jones toured and recorded with Miles Davis Quintet from 1955 to 1958—a band that became known as "The Quintet". Davis acknowledged that Jones was his favorite drummer, 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

Between late 1967 and 1972 Jones lived in London and Paris, performing and recording with musicians including Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron and Hank Mobley. For two years 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 was recorded in London with local musicians.

Later years

After returning to Philadelphia, Jones led a fusion group called Le Grand Prix, toured with Bill Evans in 1976 and 1978, recorded for Galaxy in 1977–79, and worked with Red Garland.
From 1981 he helped to found the group Dameronia, dedicated to the music of the composer Tadd Dameron, and led it until his death.
Jones died in 1985 of a heart attack at home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 62. Jones' "combination of deep-toned tom-tom and bass drums with subtle swirls of cross-rhythm on cymbals was widely imitated".

Discography

As leader

With Chris Anderson
With Chet Baker
With Evans Bradshaw
With Clifford Brown
With Kenny Burrell
With Joe Castro
With Serge Chaloff
  • Blue Serge
With Paul Chambers
With Sonny Clark
With John Coltrane
With Miles Davis
With Kenny Drew
With Bill Evans
With Art Farmer
With Red Garland
With Benny Golson
With Dexter Gordon
With Bennie Green
With Johnny Griffin
With Ernie Henry
With Elmo Hope
With Freddie Hubbard
With Bobby Hutcherson
With Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery
With Clifford Jordan
With Duke Jordan
With Abbey Lincoln
With Herbie Mann
With Warne Marsh
With Howard McGhee
With Blue Mitchell
With Hank Mobley
With J. R. Monterose
  • J. R. Monterose
With Phineas Newborn Jr.
  • Phineas' Rainbow
  • A World of Piano!
With Art Pepper
With Bud Powell
With Sonny Rollins
With Archie Shepp
With Jimmy Smith
With Sonny Stitt
With Clark Terry
With Ben Webster
With Jack Wilson
With Phil Woods