Connie Jones Tom McDermott

Biography

Conrad Rodman 'Connie' Jones III (March 22, 1934 – February 14, 2019) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began playing the bugle in military school and switched to trumpet at age 10. His first professional gig was with the Basin Street Six, a traditional New Orleans jazz group he co-led with longtime friend and collaborator Pete Fountain. Jones later played in bands led by Billy Maxted, Santo Pecora, and Jack Teagarden, joining the latter until Teagarden's death in 1964. As a bandleader, he performed at the Blue Angel nightclub and aboard the Mississippi steamboat Delta Queen, embodying the traditional New Orleans jazz style with his lyrical trumpet and cornet playing.

Throughout his career, Jones appeared on television shows including The Today Show, The Tonight Show, and The Mike Douglas Show, and performed at festivals worldwide such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Satchmo SummerFest, and Evergreen Jazz Festival. His bands, including the Crescent City Jazz Band and Connie Jones All-Stars, opened the French Quarter Festival for years, and he served on its entertainment committee in 2009. In 2008, he recorded the album Creole Nocturne with pianist Tom McDermott, showcasing his melodic prowess in a duo setting. Jones received an honorary degree from Loyola University in 2012, retired in 2016, and passed away in New Orleans at age 84, leaving a legacy as one of New Orleans' most respected traditional jazz musicians.

Jones' musical style was rooted in traditional New Orleans jazz, characterized by warm, expressive cornet lines influenced by the city's brass band heritage. Highly regarded by peers as a 'musician's musician,' he bridged early jazz giants with later generations through collaborations and festival performances, maintaining the genre's vitality until his retirement.

Fun Facts

• Jones co-led his first professional band, the Basin Street Six, with Pete Fountain while still young, marking the start of a lifelong friendship and collaboration.
• He performed aboard the Mississippi steamboat Delta Queen as a bandleader, bringing New Orleans jazz to riverboat audiences.
• Jones was part of the French Quarter Festival's entertainment committee in 2009 and had his bands open the event for multiple years.
• Highly respected among traditional jazz players, he was described as a 'musician's musician' who earned special reverence in New Orleans circles.

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Pete Fountain - long-time friend and frequent collaborator in traditional jazz bands (Basin Street Six) [1950s onward]
• Tom McDermott - pianist in duo recording (Creole Nocturne album)
• Tim Laughlin - clarinetist in recording and performances (If Dreams Come True album)
• Billy Maxted - band member in traditional jazz group (Maxted's band) [pre-1960s]
• Santo Pecora - band member in traditional jazz group (Pecora's band) [pre-1960s]
• Jack Teagarden - trumpeter in Teagarden's band until his death (Teagarden's group)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia