BIOGRAPHY
Philly Joe Jones, born Joseph Rudolph Jones on July 15, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is remembered as one of the most innovative jazz drummers of all time, particularly in the area of BeBop. To avoid being mistaken for Count Basie's most famous drummer, "Papa Jo" Jones, he dubbed himself "Philly Joe" after his hometown of Philadelphia.
Jones worked with the likes of Chet Baker, Evans Bradshaw, Clifford Brown, Kenny Burrell, Joe Castro, Serge Chaloff, Sonny Clark, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Kenny Drew, Bill Evans, Art Farmer, Red Garland, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Bennie Green, Johnny Griffin, Ernie Henry, Elmo Hope, Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, Wes Montgomery, Abbey Lincoln, Blue Mitchell, Hank Mobley, J.R. Monterose, Art Pepper, Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins, Archie Shepp, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Ben Webster, Phil Woods, Howard McGhee and others, as well as leading his own band and recording thirteen albums under his name.
Jones died on August 30, 1985, at the age of 62. The body of work he left behind includes his contributions to more than 500 albums. In addition, Philly Joe left us Brush Artisty, published in 1968 (now out of print) by Premier Drum Company. This deceptively simple book contains interesting ways of controlling and using the wire brushes. All of these, with the exception of No.1 are unique and original.
