Biography
Joseph Rudolph 'Philly Joe' Jones was born on July 15, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a musically inclined family—his mother was a piano teacher who introduced him to music fundamentals as a child. Jones developed a passion for drums as a teenager and studied with renowned drummers including Cozy Cole and Charles Wilcoxon, while receiving valuable guidance from Art Blakey and the younger Max Roach. He adopted the stage name 'Philly Joe' to distinguish himself from Count Basie's pioneering drummer Jo Jones, establishing his identity as a Philadelphia-born musician who would come to define the sound of modern jazz drumming.
Jones's professional career accelerated after moving to New York City in 1947, where he initially worked as the house drummer at Café Society, accompanying bebop pioneers including Tadd Dameron. His most significant association came between 1955 and 1958 when he joined Miles Davis's legendary quintet alongside John Coltrane on saxophone, Red Garland on piano, and Paul Chambers on bass. During this period, Jones became known for his masterful brushwork, solid timekeeping, and melodically inventive solos on classic albums such as 'Milestones' and ''Round Midnight,' establishing himself as Davis's favorite drummer and influencing an entire generation of percussionists. Beyond his work with Davis, Jones maintained an active freelance career, recording prolifically as a session musician and collaborating with artists including Bill Evans, Hank Mobley, and Clifford Brown.
Philly Joe Jones's legacy as one of the greatest hard boppers remains immeasurable. His innovative approach to swing rhythm in the 1950s bridged the gap between earlier masters like Max Roach and Art Blakey and the emerging school of Elvin Jones and Tony Williams. Known for his versatility, deep-toned tom-tom and bass drum work combined with subtle cross-rhythm patterns on cymbals, Jones's techniques are studied by jazz students worldwide. He continued performing and teaching throughout his life, helping to found the group Dameronia in 1981, dedicated to composer Tadd Dameron's music. Jones died of a heart attack on August 30, 1985, in Philadelphia at age 62, leaving behind an indelible mark on the history of jazz drumming.
Fun Facts
- Jones worked as a Philadelphia streetcar operator before becoming a full-time musician. He supposedly was fired from the job because he would stop the streetcar with passengers inside to go play sets at jazz clubs, sometimes forgetting about the people in the car.
- As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on 'The Kiddie Show,' a radio program on Philadelphia station WIP, before transitioning to drums.
- To avoid confusion with Count Basie's drummer Jo Jones, bandleader Tony Scott introduced the younger Jones by saying, 'This is the Joe Jones from Philly,' which eventually led to his legal name change to Philly Joe Jones.
- Between 1967 and 1969, Jones taught at a specially organized school in Hampstead, London, but was prevented from otherwise working in the UK by the Musicians' Union, forcing him to focus on teaching during his European residence.
Associated Acts
- Miles Davis Quintet (1955–1958)
- Miles Davis Sextet - membranophone (1955–1958)
- Elmo Hope Sextet - drums (drum set)
- Johnny Griffin Sextet
- Johnny Griffin Quartet
- Kenny Dorham Septet
- Bill Evans Trio - drums (drum set)
- Miles Davis All Stars
- Miles Davis Quartet
- Philly Joe Jones Quintet - eponymous, original
- Phineas Newborn Quartet
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Cozy Cole - Formal drum instructor who helped Jones improve his reading skills for studio work (Private instruction and study) [1950s]
- Charles Wilcoxon - Drum teacher and rudiments instructor during Jones's formative years (Drum technique and rudiments training) [1930s-1940s]
- Art Blakey - Influential jazz drummer who provided valuable advice during Jones's early career (Mentorship and stylistic guidance) [1940s]
- Max Roach - Pioneering jazz drummer who influenced Jones's approach to timekeeping and swing (Stylistic influence and mentorship) [1940s onwards]
Key Collaborators
- Miles Davis - Primary association as drummer in Davis's legendary quintet; Davis stated Jones was his favorite drummer ('Milestones', ''Round Midnight', and other quintet recordings) [1955-1958]
- John Coltrane - Saxophonist in the Miles Davis Quintet (Miles Davis Quintet recordings) [1955-1958]
- Red Garland - Pianist in the Miles Davis Quintet and later collaborator (Miles Davis Quintet recordings and studio sessions in 1977) [1955-1958, 1977]
- Paul Chambers - Bassist in the Miles Davis Quintet (Miles Davis Quintet recordings) [1955-1958]
- Bill Evans - Pianist who frequently collaborated with Jones and stated he was his all-time favorite drummer (Various recordings and tours) [1958 onwards, tours in 1976 and 1978]
- Tadd Dameron - Composer-bandleader with whom Jones worked extensively (Various recordings and performances; later founded Dameronia) [1947, 1953-1954, 1981-1985]
- Hank Mobley - Saxophonist and frequent collaborator (Various recordings and performances in Europe) [1958 onwards, 1967-1972]
- Clifford Brown - Trumpeter with whom Jones recorded as a session musician (Prestige/Fantasy Records sessions) [1950s]
- Lee Morgan - Trumpeter with whom Jones recorded as a session musician (Prestige/Fantasy Records sessions) [1950s]
- Archie Shepp - Saxophonist with whom Jones performed and recorded while living in Europe (Various recordings) [1967-1972]
- Mal Waldron - Pianist with whom Jones performed and recorded while living in Europe (Various recordings) [1967-1972]
Artists Influenced
- Elvin Jones - Part of the emerging school of drummers influenced by Jones's innovations in swing rhythm (Modern jazz drumming approach) [1960s onwards]
- Tony Williams - Part of the emerging school of drummers influenced by Jones's innovations in swing rhythm (Modern jazz drumming approach) [1960s onwards]
- Roy Haynes - Drummer influenced by Jones's approach to timekeeping and swing (Jazz drumming techniques) [1950s onwards]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 雨の日のビル・エヴァンス | 2024-06-19 | Album |
| Philly Joe's Beat | 1960 | Album |
| The Greatest Jazz Albums of 1956, Vol. 1 | 2019-02-01 | Album |
| Kenny Drew Trio (Remastered 2025) | 2025-09-26 | Album |
| 'Round About Midnight (Mono Version) | 1957-03-18 | Album |
| Drums Around The World | 1992-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Milestones (feat. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) (Milestones)
- 'Round Midnight (feat. John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) ('Round About Midnight)
- Bye Bye Blackbird (feat. John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) ('Round About Midnight)
- All of You (feat. John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) ('Round About Midnight)
- Straight, No Chaser (feat. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) (Milestones)
- Two Bass Hit (feat. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) (Milestones)
- Dear Old Stockholm (feat. John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) ('Round About Midnight)
- Ah-Leu-Cha (feat. John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) ('Round About Midnight)
- Dr. Jackle (feat. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones) (Milestones)
- Time Remembered (The Interplay Sessions [2-fer])
External Links
Tags: #bebop, #hard-bop, #jazz
Heard on WWOZ
PHILLY JOE JONES has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2025 | 16:38 | I'LL NEVER BE THE SAMEfrom PHILLY JOE JONES - SHOWCASE (4 CLASSIC ALBUMS - JAZZ DRUMMERS) | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Maryse Dejean | |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 13:26 | BLUES FOR DRACULA | New Orleans Music Showw/ Michael Dominici | |
| Sep 29, 2025 | 23:41 | I Wanna Know | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman |