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Sam Jones

Sam Jones was a solid jazz bassist with impeccable technique, who could also swing and groove with the best of them. Most associated with his tenures with Cannonball Adderley, and then Oscar Peterson, he also went on to front his own bands and left a reputable recorded legacy as a leader.

Sam Jones was born in Florida on Nov. 12, 1924, starting his career playing in local bands. By 1953 he was playing with Tiny Bradshaw , then after moving to New York in 1955 he joined up with the groups of Kenny Dorham, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk.

But it would be with the Cannonballs Adderley Quintet, from 1959 to 1966, where he would establish his reputation. Paired up with stellar drummer Louis Hayes, in what has proven to be a benchmark rhythm section for being “in the pocket.” There have been few better.

He also did solo projects during the early sixties and released some fine sides for Riverside, where he was able to stretch out on some of his cello oriented pieces.

Jones went on to replace Ray Brown in the Oscar Peterson Trio in from 1966 to 1970. From this setting he moved on and teamed up with Cedar Walton and Billy Higgins.

From 1977 to his death in 1981 Jones remained very active both as leader and sought after session player. His recording with a twelve piece big band in 1979 “Something New,” has been reissued and being appreciated again. This is also the case with fine session for Muse in 1977 "Something in Common," which is superbly reviewed here at allaboutjazz. Source: James Nadal

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Did a critic ever accuse classical concert pianist Martha Argerich of displaying too much technique while playing Ravel? It is hardly an idle question as Argerich, one of the most gifted pianists in history, plays Ravel beautifully precisely because she has the technique to do so. She could not play “Sonatine" or “Gaspard de la Nuit"--fearsomely difficult, say pianists--if she did not. The beauty is inseparable from the technique; and the technique part of the beauty. This is ...

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Clifford Jordan, the iconic American jazz tenor saxophonist, has left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. Known for his dynamic playing style and innovative compositions, his album Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow is a testament to his unparalleled musical prowess. The original album was recorded in 1974 for Strata-East as an LP but did not make it to the catalogue during this period. However, his wife, Sandy Jordan, unearthed this gem, which was remastered for presentation in ...

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Read "Drink Plenty Water" reviewed by Dave Linn


In August 1974, Clifford Jordan entered the studio for what was to be the follow-up to his acclaimed 2-LP set, Glass Bead Games (1973) for his third album on the Strata-East label. Sadly, the label folded in 1975, and the album was never released. Now, 49 years later, Drink Plenty Water, has finally seen the light of day. It is a time capsule of that collaborative era when jazz stretched its boundaries. It features an all-star roster with a front ...

Album Review

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L'11 novembre 1973 alla Famous Ballroom di Baltimora il quartetto di Sonny Stitt, fresco reduce dai fasti dei Giants of Jazz (Gillespie, Monk, Winding, Blakey, McKibbon) e certamente in stato di grazia (non aveva del resto ancora cinquant'anni pur essendo già un veterano, per qualcuno addirittura un sorpassato), tenne un concerto ricco di fuoco e invenzioni a getto continuo che oggi, grazie a Jazz Detective, trova posto in un doppio album (CD o LP) comprensivo di ampio libretto di accompagnamento ...

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Bill Evans: Everybody Still Digs Bill Evans: A Career Retrospective (1956 - 1980)

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Only occasionally do classy looking limited-edition box sets prove to be a triumph of style and substance. Too often they are undermined by cheapskate packaging, over elaborate design, poorly written and researched booklets, inadequate session details or, most egregiously, bizarre (in a bad way) track selections. So it is a more than pleasant surprise when something comes along which succeeds, and succeeds magnificently, on all those fronts. Such an item is Concord Records' Craft imprint's Everybody Still Digs Bill Evans: ...

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Album Review

Freddie Hubbard: Open Sesame

Read "Open Sesame" reviewed by Chris May


Blue Note's two 180gm vinyl-reissue series--Blue Note 80 and Tone Poet--continue on their enigmatic going on erratic, but mostly magnificent paths. Tone Poet is billed as the audiophile option but, on a fairly limited sampling of both series, there seems to be little, if anything at all, separating the two in audio terms. The key difference is that Tone Poet has the more luxurious, heavyweight packaging. Whatever. It is the music that counts—and 22-year old Freddie Hubbard's 1960 label debut ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Sam Jones

Jazz Musician of the Day: Sam Jones

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Sam Jones' birthday today!

Sam Jones was a solid jazz bassist with impeccable technique, who could also swing and groove with the best of them. Most associated with his tenures with Cannonball Adderley, and then Oscar Peterson, he also went on to front his own bands and left a reputable recorded legacy as a leader. Sam Jones was born in Florida on Nov. 12, 1924, starting his career playing in local bands. By 1953 he ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Sam Jones

Jazz Musician of the Day: Sam Jones

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Sam Jones' birthday today!

Sam Jones was a solid jazz bassist with impeccable technique, who could also swing and groove with the best of them. Most associated with his tenures with Cannonball Adderley, and then Oscar Peterson, he also went on to front his own bands and left a reputable recorded legacy as a leader. Sam Jones was born in Florida on Nov. 12, 1924, starting his career playing in local bands. By 1953 he ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

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Drink Plenty Water

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