Topically Yours -Jazz drummer Willie Jones, III

Host Deardra Shuler talks with jazz drummer Willie Jones III who will be appearing at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on Thurs. June 13 - Sunday, 6/16. Two shows: 7:30 and 9:30 pm.

Willie Jones III, earned street cred backing up the heaviest of jazz hitters including Milt Jackson, Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove. He remains one of today’s most sought after drummers.  For his four night engagement at Dizzy’s, Jones has assembled a top notch soulful band featuring the finest musicians in modern jazz:  Eric Reed (piano), Warren Wolf (vibes), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Stacy Dillard (reeds), and Dezron Douglas (bass).  The collective will perform with the deep-grooving swing that defines Jones’ repertoire.  

Born in Los Angeles, California, Jones’ earliest exposure to music was through his father, Willie Jones II, an accomplished and notable jazz pianist.  Jones co-founded jazz band Black Note. He is featured on Sandoval’s GRAMMY award winning release Hot House (N2K).  He joined Roy Hargrove’s Quintet and is featured on the CD Verve: Moment To Moment, Hard Groove, Nothing Serious and RH Factor’s Distractions.  Jones can be heard on a host of recordings including Kurt Elling’s GRAMMY nominated Night Moves (Concord) and Eric Reed’s Here (Max Jazz).  Jones has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Ernestine Anderson, Bobby Hutcherson,  Cedar Walton, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Houston Person, Billy Childs, Eric Reed, Herbie Hancock and Hank Jones, et al. 

In 2000, Jones’ releasedVol 1…Straight Swingin’ on his own label, WJ3 Records.

For more information, including artist line up and pricing, go to jalc.org.