Jimmy Jones (pianist)

Jimmy Jones andJohn Levy,1947
Photography byWilliam P. Gottlieb

Sol Yaged,John Levy,Jimmy Jones, andRex Stewart,Pied Piper, New York, c. September 1946
Photograph byWilliam P. Gottlieb

James Henry Jones(December 30, 1918, Memphis, Tennessee – April 29, 1982,Burbank, California)was an Americanjazzpianist and arranger.

Biography

As a child, Jones learned guitar and piano.He worked inChicagoorchestras from 1936 and played in a trio withStuff Smithfrom 1943 to 1945.Following this, he played withDon Byas,Dizzy Gillespie(1945),J.C. Heard(1945–47),Buck Clayton(1946) andEtta Jones.He accompaniedSarah Vaughanfrom 1947 to 1952, and then again from 1954 to 1958 after a long illness.In 1954, he played on an album withClifford Brownand accompanied him on his European tour. Around this time, he also played withHelen MerrillandGil Evans.In 1959, he accompaniedAnita O'Dayin her appearance at theNewport Jazz Festivaland worked withDakota Staton,Pat Suzuki,andMorgana King.

As a pianist and arranger in New York City,he worked in the 1960s withHarry Belafonte,Johnny Hodges,Budd Johnson,Nat Gonella,andClark Terry.He accompaniedChris Connoron her version of "Where Flamingoes Fly", and sat in withDuke Ellington's Orchestra for some collaborations withElla Fitzgerald.Jones did a set with his trio (Jimmy Hughart andGrady Tate) at the Antibes Jazz Festival in 1966, and the following year toured withJazz at the Philharmonic.In the 1970s, he worked withKenny BurrellandCannonball Adderley.

In the course of his career, Jones played piano on recordings byHarry Sweets Edison,Ben Webster,Big Joe Turner,Coleman Hawkins,Frank Wess,Milt Jackson,Sidney Bechet,Sonny Rollins,Sonny Stitt,andThad Jonesand worked as an arranger forWes Montgomery,Nancy Wilson,Sandler and Young,Shirley Horn,Joe Williams,Billy Taylor,Carmen McRae, andChris Connor.

Dave Brubeckcited Jones as an influence and said of him: "He didn't like to solo. Harmonically, though, he was one of the greatest players I ever heard."

Discography

As leader

• "Jimmy Jones' Big Eight":Rex StewartAnd the Ellingtonians(Riverside, OJC, 1946)withHarry Carney,Lawrence Brown,Otto Hardwick,Ted Nash,Billy Taylor,Shelly Manne
• "Jimmy Jones' Big Four":Giants of Small Band Swing, Vol. 1 & 2(Riverside, OJC, 1946)withBudd Johnson,Al Hall,Denzil Best

As sideman

WithKenny Burrell

• Ellington Is Forever(Fantasy, 1975)
• Ellington Is Forever Volume Two(Fantasy, 1975)

WithBuck Clayton

• How Hi the Fi(Columbia, 1954)
• Buck Meets Ruby(Vanguard, 1954) withRuby Braff
• Jumpin' at the Woodside(Columbia, 1955)

WithHarry Edison

• The Swinger(Verve, 1958)
• Mr. Swing(Verve, 1958 [1960])
• Harry Edison Swings Buck Clayton(Verve, 1958) withBuck Clayton

WithJohnny Griffin

• White Gardenia(Riverside, 1961)

WithJohnny Hodges

• Blue Pyramid(Verve, 1966) withWild Bill Davis
• Blue Notes(Verve, 1966) as arranger and conductor
• Triple Play(RCA Victor, 1967) as performer and arranger

WithIllinois Jacquet

• Swing's the Thing(Clef, 1956)

WithBudd Johnson

• Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants(Riverside, 1960)

WithThad Jones

• The Jones Boys(Period, 1957) withEddie Jones,Quincy JonesandJo Jones

WithHelen Merrill

• Helen Merrill(Em Arcy, 1955) Produced byQuincy Jones
• You've Got a Date with the Blues(MetroJazz, 1959), as performer and arranger

WithJoe Newman

• Joe Newman with Woodwinds(Roulette, 1958)

WithPaul Quinichette

• Moods(EmArcy, 1954)

WithSonny Stitt

• New York Jazz(Verve, 1956)
• The Saxophones of Sonny Stitt(Roost, 1958)
• A Little Bit of Stitt(Roost, 1959)
• The Sonny Side of Stitt(Roost, 1959)
• Stittsville(Roost, 1960)
• Sonny Side Up(Roost, 1960)
• Stitt in Orbit(Roost, 1960 [1963])

WithClark Terry

• Top and Bottom Brass(Riverside, 1959)

WithBen Webster

• The Soul of Ben Webster(Verve, 1958)
• Ben Webster and Associates(Verve, 1959)

WithSarah Vaughan

• Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown(Em Arcy, 1955)
• In the Land of Hi-Fi(EmArcy, 1955)
• Swingin' Easy(EmArcy, 1957, tracks 3, 5, 6, 9, and 13)
• At Mister Kelly's(EmArcy, 1957)

WithNancy Wilson

• The Sound of Nancy Wilson(Capitol, 1968)
• Hurt So Bad(Capitol, 1969)

As arranger

WithJohnny Hodges

• Don't Sleep in the Subway(Verve, 1967)

WithMilt Jackson

• The Ballad Artistry of Milt Jackson(Atlantic, 1959)
• For Someone I Love(Riverside, 1963)
• Feelings(Pablo, 1976)

WithBilly Taylor

• Kwamina(Mercury, 1961)

WithNancy Wilson

• Easy(Capitol, 1968)
• Nancy(Capitol, 1969)

WithSandler and Young

• Pretty Things Come in Twos(Capitol)
• Honey Come Back(Capitol)
• Odds and Ends(Capitol)