Photo: Unknown · CC BY-SA 4.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Jo Jones
Person · male · United States · Chicago · born 1911 · died 1985 · recording since 1955
American jazz drummer (1911–1985)
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Also known as Jonathan David Samuel Jones · Papa Jo Jones · ジョー・ジョーンズ
Timeline
17 events▣ Album 14◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1910s
1950s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Jo Jones Special
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2010s
Biography
English biography642 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1364151407
Biography
Jonathan David Samuel Jones (October 7, 1911 – September 3, 1985) was an American jazz drummer. A band leader and pioneer in jazz percussion, Jones anchored the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section from 1934 to 1948. He was sometimes known as Papa Jo Jones to distinguish him from younger drummer Philly Joe Jones.
Biography
Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Jones moved to Alabama, where he learned to play several instruments, including saxophone, piano, and drums. He worked as a drummer and tap-dancer at carnival shows until joining Walter Page's band, the Blue Devils in Oklahoma City in the late 1920s. He recorded with trumpeter Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders in 1931, and later joined pianist Count Basie's band in 1934. Jones, Basie, guitarist Freddie Green and bassist Walter Page were sometimes billed as an "All-American Rhythm section," an ideal team. Jones took a brief break for two years when he was in the military, but he remained with Basie until 1948. He participated in the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series.
He was one of the first drummers to promote the use of brushes on drums, and shifting the role of timekeeping from the bass drum to the hi-hat cymbal. Jones had a major influence on later drummers such as Buddy Rich, Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, and Louie Bellson. He also starred in several films, most notably the musical short Jammin' the Blues (1944).
Jones performed regularly in later years at the West End jazz club at 116th and Broadway in New York City. These performances were generally well attended by other drummers such as Max Roach and Roy Haynes. In addition to his artistry on the drums, Jones was known for his irascible, combative temperament. One famous instance of his irritable temper was in the spring of 1936, during a jam session at the Reno Club in Kansas City. A young Charlie Parker was attempting to play an improvised solo, but lost track of the chord changes; as a sign of contempt, Jones threw a cymbal from his drum kit onto the floor near Parker's feet to get him to leave the stage.
In contrast to the prevailing jazz drum style exemplified by Gene Krupa's loud, insistent pounding of the bass drum on each beat, Jones often omitted bass drum playing altogether. Jones also continued a ride rhythm on hi-hat, while it was continuously opening and closing instead of the common practice of only striking it while it was closed. Jones's style influenced the modern jazz drummer's tendency to play timekeeping rhythms on a cymbal, that is now known as the ride cymbal.
In 1979, Jones was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Birmingham, Alabama musical heritage. Jones was the 1985 recipient of an American Jazz Masters fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
His autobiography (as told to Albert Murray), entitled Rifftide: The Life and Opinions of Papa Jo Jones and based on conversations between Jones and novelist Murray from 1977 to before Jones' death in 1985, was posthumously published in 2011 by the University of Minnesota Press.
Known as Papa Jo Jones in his later years, he is sometimes confused with another influential jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones. The two died only a few days apart.
Jones died of pneumonia in New York City at the age of 73.
As leader/co-leader
1955: The Jo Jones Special (Vanguard)
1957: The Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Pete Brown, Jo Jones All Stars at Newport (Verve) with Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge and Pete Brown
1958: Jo Jones Plus Two (Vanguard)
1959: Jo Jones Trio (Everest)
1960: Vamp 'til Ready (Everest)
1960: Percussion and Bass (Everest) with Milt Hinton
1969-1975: Smiles (Black & Blue)
1973: The Drums (Jazz Odyssey)
1976: The Main Man (Pablo)
1977: Papa Jo and His Friends (Denon)
1977: Our Man, Papa Jo! (Denon)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 22 | 83.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 18 | 86.3th |
| Studio albums | 14 | 94th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 17 | 92.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 30 | 66.1th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (18 release groups · 14 studio albums)
Albums · 14
1955 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 41:05
A1Shoe Shine Boy (first take)5:55A2Lover Man6:32A3Georgia Mae4:50A4Caravan4:00B1Lincoln Heights7:49B2Embraceable You6:43B3Shoe Shine Boy (second take)5:161959 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 39:33
1Sweet Georgia Brown2:382My Blue Heaven2:513Jive at Five3:444Greensleeves2:535When Your Lover Has Gone3:166Philadelphia Bound3:187Close Your Eyes3:218I Got Rhythm3:079I Got Rhythm, Part 22:5910Embraceable You3:4311Bebop Irishman3:4712Little Susie3:561960 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 33:59
A1Tam2:03A2Me and You2:25A3Coffee Dan2:52A4The Love Nest4:34A5H.O.T.3:13A6Shoes on the Ruff2:53B1The Walls Fall2:35B2Blue Skies2:33B3Late in the Evening2:21B4Ocho Puertas2:55B5Tin Top Alley Blues3:01B6Little Honey2:341960 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 36:16
1Vamp 'til Ready3:252You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me2:273Should I2:454Sandy's Body2:535Thou Swell3:306Show Time3:307Liza2:378But Not for Me3:009Royal Garden Blues3:1210Mozelle's Alley3:0011Sow Trot3:2012In the Forrest2:371974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 36:57
A1That’s All3:38A2I Should Care4:08A3Polka Dots and Moonbeans5:43A4Autumn in N.Y.4:51B1Willow Weep for Me6:15B2Memories of You5:06B3Tell Me About Him3:40B4But Beautiful3:361974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 35:53
A1Time After Time4:05A2Poor Butterfly4:30A3Stockholm in Summer5:31A4Tophie's Dream3:57B1Sweet Lorraine5:51B2Stormy Weather2:50B3I Am in the Mood for Love4:46B4I Can't Get Started4:231977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 42:45
1Goin' to Chicago Blues9:092I Want to Be Happy4:483Adlib8:124Dark Eyes10:205Metrical Portions5:516Ol' Man River4:251977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 30:00
A1Vamp Till Ready3:11A2You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me2:26A3Should I2:45A4Sandy's Body2:52A5Thou Swell3:31B1Liza2:36B2Show Time3:28B3But Not for Me2:59B4Mozelle's Alley3:00B5Royal Garden Blues3:121977 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:06:03
1Take The "A" Train5:422My Last Affair5:503Stompin' at the Savoy7:094Broadway6:175As Time Goes By2:586Wrap Up Your Troubles In Dreams3:277Solitude4:258It Don't Mean A Thing4:389I've Found a New Baby6:4910All of Me5:3411The Days of Wine and Roses6:4912Dissertation6:251989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 39:33
1Sweet Georgia Brown2:382My Blue Heaven2:513Jive at Five3:444Greensleeves2:535When Your Lover Has Gone3:166Philadelphia Bound3:187Close Your Eyes3:218I Got Rhythm3:079I Got Rhythm, Part 22:5910Embraceable You3:4311Bebop Irishman3:4712Little Susie3:561995 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 6 tracks · 42:58
1Goin' to Chicago Blues9:112I Want to Be Happy4:503Adlib8:144Dark Eyes10:225Metrical Portions5:556Ol' Man River4:262010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:17:41
1Shoe Shine Boy (first take)5:532Lover Man6:313Georgia Mae4:494Caravan4:015Lincoln Heights7:476Embraceable You6:437Shoe Shine Boy (second take)5:188Vamp Till Ready3:189You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me2:2910Should I2:4711Sandy's Body2:5612Thou Swell3:3513Show Time3:3314Liza2:3915But Not for Me3:0416Royal Garden Blues3:1417Mozelle's Alley3:0018Sox Trot3:2619In the Forrest2:382017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 36 tracks · 1:50:11
Disc 11Warm Up Solo1:362Basics‐Gadgets‐Effects7:353Rudiments (drum roll‐flams‐single stroke)4:434Rim Shots – Tom Tom5:315Home Practis1:086Two Beat – Four Beat – Three Beat5:567Drum Solo no. 13:058Accompaniment4:239Latin Rhythms1:3610Rock n’ Roll Rhythms2:0811Making Changes4:1112Drum Solo no. 36:1113Colours7:58Disc 21Drum Solo no. 25:412Drummers I Met1:263Drummers I Met: Baby Dodds1:064Drummers I Met: Josh1:065Drummers I Met: unnamed drumer from Saint‐Louis2:036Drummers I Met: Alvin Burrough2:127Drummers I Met: A.G. Godley2:068Drummers I Met: Gene Krupa1:249Drummers I Met: Big Sid Catlett1:1810Drummers I Met: unnamed and unplaced drummer0:3411Drummers I Met: Walter Johnson1:1712Drummers I Met: Sonny Greer3:0113Drummers I Met: Billy Gladstone3:0714Drummers I Met: Manzie Campbell1:3815Drummers I Met: Chick Webb2:0716Drummers I Met: Baby Lovett2:3417Drummers I Met: Jo Jone's personal contribution1:1218Dancers I Met1:2119Dancers I Met: Pete Nugent1:5920Dancers I Met: Eddie Rector3:2521Dancers I Met: Baby Laurence3:0922Dancers I Met: Bill « Bojangles » Robinson2:5023Dancers I Met: Caravan7:342019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 46:05
1Love Is Just Around The Corner4:052A Wig On The Bold Headed Mountain3:173I Found A New Set Of Drums2:394I Cried For You5:515Dinah3:096In A Little Spanish Town2:347Slide Jimmy Slide3:098The Way You Look Tonight3:069Smiles2:4710Caravan15:28
Album · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Essential Jo JonesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 1:23:54Disc 1 A1Shoe Shine Boy (First Take)5:51 A2Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)6:28 A3Georgia Mae4:47 A4Caravan3:58 B1Lincoln Heights7:46 B2Embraceable You7:40 B3Shoe Shine Boy (Second Take)5:16 Disc 2C1Satin Doll5:51 C2Little Susie5:19 C3Spider Kelly's Blues4:45 C4Cubano Chant4:00 D1Splittin'4:52 D2Sweet Lorraine4:38 D3Bicycle For Two2:37 D4Old Man River6:40 D5Sometimes I'm Happy3:26 | Compilation | 1977 | |
| 1982 | Basie ReunionsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 1:18:00Disc 1 A1Rock-A-Bye Basie6:40 A2Texas Shuffle7:10 A3Out The Window7:00 B1Jive At Five9:45 B2Diggin' For Dex7:10 Disc 2C1The Blues I Like To Hear7:20 C2Love Jumped Out6:10 C3John's Idea9:20 D1Baby Don't Tell On Me7:50 D2Roseland Shuffle9:35 | Compilation | 1982 | |
| 2005 | The Everest YearsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 1:15:171Sweet Georgia Brown2:37 2My Blue Heaven2:50 3Jive At Five4:07 4Greensleeves2:51 5When Your Love Has Gone3:15 6Philadelphia Bound3:22 7Close Your Eyes2:28 8I Got Rhythm - Part I3:08 9I Got Rhythm - Part II3:01 10Embraceable You3:47 11Bebop Irishman3:50 12Little Susie3:26 13Vamp 'Til Ready3:18 14You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me2:29 15Should I2:47 16Sandy's Body3:34 17Thou Swell3:32 18Show Time2:55 19Liza2:39 20But Not For Me3:03 21Royal Garden Blues3:14 22Mozelle's Alley3:00 23Sox Trot3:26 24In The Forrest2:38 | Compilation | 2005 | |
| 2009 | The Embers Live 1964Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:18:311(I Wonder Why?) You’re Just in Love5:00 2Make Someone Happy / Someone to Watch Over Me / Street of Dreams6:18 3A Foggy Day in London Town / But Not for Me4:17 4Manhattan2:21 5Chicago3:58 6California, Here I Come8:20 7Manhattan2:21 8My Blue Heaven5:19 9Play / Pennies From Heaven4:19 10The Man That Got Away / Hallelujah! / Ain’t Misbehavin’ / She’s Funny That Way / What Is There to Say? / Make Someone Happy11:56 11Undecided4:59 12Soliloquy (My Boy Bill)4:49 13Commemorative Silence0:11 14Sketches for a Sympthony: Waltz With Me / Oh, but It Is / Do I Love You? / Won’t You Take a Lesson in Love? / Night Falls Again / Skip It / Do I Love You? / Minuet in Swing / This Time It’s You14:23 | Live | 2009 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Jo Jones head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 22 | 83.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 18 | 86.3th |
| Studio albums | 14 | 94th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 17 | 92.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 30 | 66.1th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | NEA Jazz Masters | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Five(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| Kansas City Six(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| Jazz Artists Guild(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| Jones‐Smith, Incorporated(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| Count Basie Band(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| The Jones Boys(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| The Blues Band(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| Earl Hines Quartet(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| The Jimmy Rushing All Stars(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| The Nat Pierce Orchestra(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| The Oscar Pettiford Quartet(band) | — | present | |
| Max Kaminsky & His All Star Dixieland Band(band) | — | present | drums (drum set) |
| The Charlie Shavers Quintet(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jo_Jones.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ceda2457-e16f-4938-a276-af854b20b22adiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ceda2457-e16f-4938-a276-af854b20b22acore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125686genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125686seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Jonesbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Jones
Why this artist is in the database
- List of swing musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Unknown · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q125686 · MusicBrainz: ceda2457-e16f-4938-a276-af854b20b22a
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