BIOGRAPHY
Daru Jones, born in Michigan on August 12, is one of the most respected drummers of his generation. Having two professional musicians as parents, Daru began playing the drums at the age of four. Though he got his start in the church, Jones has been influenced by musicians from a wide range of genres. These eclectic musical tastes have carried over into his own career as he has recorded, performed, and toured with renowned artists and producers such as: Jack White, Nas, Talib Kweli, Black Milk, Salaam Remi, Lorenzo Jovanotti, Sturgil Simpson, Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, Esparanza Spalding, Black Violin, Ski Beatz & The Sensei’s, and Jon B (partial list). Alongside these artists Jones has graced the stages of some of the most revered events in the music industry, including: One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide! A 20th anniversary celebration of Nas debut album Illmatic, the 2013 Grammy Awards, Austin City Limits, Rock The Bells Festival, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Receiving rave reviews from: Rolling Stone Magazine, LA Weekly, and USA Today (partial list), he has also appeared on several national and international television programs: The David Letterman Show, Jools Holland (UK), The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, and MTV.
Jones has been the “go-to-drummer” in the hip hop game for nearly a decade. He has shared the stage with legends and emerging stars alike, including: Raekwon, Curren$y, Theophulis London, Pharoahe Monch, Jean Grae, Black Moon, Slum Village, Black Sheep, Digable Planets, Camp_Lo and Large Professor.
Going beyond his role as sideman Jones also records and tours throughout Europe and North America as a member of the Vienna-based hip hop/jazz trio, THE RUFF PACK. The band recently released their sophomore album, WITH YOU (2013) to much critical acclaim.
Jones is also a sought-after producer and boutique label owner who develops talent and releases music through his imprint, RUSIC RECORDS, LLC. The Brooklyn, NY-based producer/musician exhibits a unique approach to beat-making by incorporating live drum loops, jazzy and gospel samples, and a soulful musicianship into all of his projects. Over the past decade, Jones has produced and released a catalog of projects he classifies as “soul-hop” featuring collaborations with vocalists and rappers: Kissey Asplund, Jasiri X, Reggie B, Rena, AB, and Eagle Nebula, among others. In addition to these RUSIC projects, Jones has produced original and remixed tracks for recording artists, such as: Muhsinah, iSHE, Jessie Boykins III, and Kendra Ross, to name a few.
2015 is already shaping up to be an amazing year for Jones. His performance on “Lazaretto”, the first single from Jack White’s second solo album of the same name, helped White earn a 2015 Grammy for Best Rock Performance. Jones has also received high accolades for his performances on the Lazaretto tour (his second with White). Most recently, he was featured on Esquire.com, declared the “Unsung Hero of Coachella 2015″ by Fuse.tv, and named “Best Drummer of Coachella 2015″ by the LA Times Music Blog, Pop & Hiss.
Jones has just wrapped up touring on the Lazaretto tour and now plans to reunite with his band, THE RUFF PACK in support of their latest album release and a project they’ve developed in honor of jazz legend, Thelonious Monk. He is also promoting the release of a duo project he produced with his sister Rena entitled, #HONEY. The album which is RUSIC RECORDS debut retail album is now available worldwide on all major digital music providers and physically via rusicrecords.com.
Drum Influences: Dana Davis, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Stewart Copeland, Steve Smith, Peter Eskine, Bernard Purdie, Virgil Donati, Dave Weckl, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Gene Krupa, Omar Hakim, Bill Maxwell, Micheal Lee, Terry Givens
Producer Influences: DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Dre, Marley Marl, Jay Dee (J.Dilla), Kay Gee, Rza, Da Beatminerz, Eric B, Eric Sermon, The Bomb Squad, Bill Maxwell, Micheal Brooks.
