Search - Jo Jones :: Main Man

Presenting the world's greatest drummer as a leader

JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 11/17/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1976 session is one of the rare albums Jo Jones recorded under his own name.Of course,he did two outstanding albums for Vanguard and another one for Everest in the fifties;but this extraordinary musician,the most talented drummer in jazz,one of the greatest geniuses in the history of this music,mostly recorded as a sideman during his career,which lasted some fifty five years....By the way,Rollins is 70 now,Ornette is 72,Mal Waldron,Cecil Payne or Randy Weston will soon be 80 years old.I think that this session is a very good one, with typical Kansas City swing.It's not a surprise: Edison,Dickenson,Davis,Greene and of course Jo Jones were members of the Count Basie band.At this time,Freddie Greene was still a member of Basie's orchestra;he started playing with the Count in 1937,and remained in the band until the death of the leader,in... 1984 ! Surely,one of the most admirable examples of fidelity in jazz music ( Harry Carney,baritone sax,stayed with Ellington from 1927 until 1974;he died five months after Duke).
This records has great solos by these masters of jazz; Eldridge,Edison,Dickenson,Lockjaw Davis are in top form;the younger generation,composed of bassist Sam Jones,and the great pianist,Tommy Flanagan (1930-2001),support the elders with talent.But the delight here is to listen to Jo Jones' amazing drumming,specially when he plays brushes. No one never played brushes that way,even Kenny Clarke or Frank Butler.Do you remember the terrific things Jo did once with Art Tatum on "just one of those things" ?(Art Tatum trio,1956,Verve Records).If you've never heard that perfect beat,that incredible KC swing,you've got to discover the father of all modern jazz drummers, Mr Jonathan Jones.I'm sure you'll be fascinated by him.As far as jazz drumming is concerned,Jo Jones has allways been my man,with Sam Woodyard.Let's be seduced by the juvenile playing of these guys,who were musicians for more than fourty years when this record was done."