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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZJONES, Philly Joe(b Joseph Rudolph Jones, 15 July '23, Philadelphia PA; d there 30 Aug. '85) Drums; other instruments. One of the most important modern jazz drummers preceding Elvin Jones (no relation). Played in local combos backing Dexter Gordon, other visiting musicians; to NYC gigging widely, with Miles Davis off and on from '52; in '56--8 a member of the Davis sextet for albums on Prestige such as Workin', Steamin'. Davis once said, 'I wouldn't care if he came up on the stand in his BVDs and with one arm, just so long as he was there. He's got the fire I want.' The fire was a kind of controlled explosion, always in good taste but with the feeling that there was plenty of power and emotion in reserve; some were afraid that Jones's energy would overpower a Miles Davis sextet, but they also didn't like John Coltrane (recommended to Miles by Philly Joe): Davis knew what he wanted; the combo was perhaps the greatest of the era. Jones's solos were never over the top either, but full of listenable and musical surprise. He rejoined Davis briefly '62, freelanced on the West Coast, visited Japan '65, taught in London and Paris '67--9, spent much time in Europe early '70s. His own LPs, always with good sidemen such as Johnny Griffin, Mickey Tucker, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Garrison, many others, began with sextet Time For Dracula '58, big-band Drums Around The World '59, sextet/septet Showcase '59 on Riverside; Philly Joe's Beat '60 (also Together '61 led by Elvin Jones) on Atlantic. Trailways Express '68 on Black Lion was made in London with Kenny Wheeler; Round Midnight '69 on Lotus in Italy with Dizzy Reese on trumpet (b 5 Jan. '31, Jamaica); Mean What You Say '77 in NYC for Sonet (with Tucker). Philly Mignon '77 (with Gordon, Nat Adderley), Drum Song and Advance! '78 on Galaxy. Led Dameronia, nine- or ten-piece combo that played compositions of Tadd Dameron, others: To Tadd With Love '82, Look Stop Listen '83 on Uptown with Cecil Payne, Larry Ridley on bass (b 3 Sep. '37, Indianapolis), Walter Davis Jr on piano, Donald Sickler on trumpet, various others. |