Willie Jones, III
| Willie Jones, III | |
|---|---|
 Willie Jones, III Aarhus, Denmark 2007 Photo Hreinn Gudlaugsson | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
June 8, 1968 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Labels | WJ3 |
| Associated acts | Black Note, Roy Hargrove |
| Website |
www |
Willie Jones III (born June 8, 1968, Los Angeles, California) is a jazz drummer.[1]
He has played, toured, and recorded with Horace Silver, Roy Hargrove, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, and Herbie Hancock. He played on Arturo Sandoval's Grammy-winning album Hot House (1998).[2]
Jones has released several albums with his group Black Note, whose members have included Ark Sano, Eric Reed, Gilbert Castellanos, James Mahone, Kenneth Crouch, Mark Shelby, and Richard E. Grant.[3]
He is appreciated by jazz musicians for his exceptional speed and control, together with his use of a wide range of textures which characterize most of his playing. He is a master of many styles and moves quickly and easily between be-bop, big band, avante guard, and Latin jazz grooves. He has regularly played with pianist Eric Reed]], as the drummer for Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has several CDs released as a leader on his own label, playing hard bop and swing.
In 2000, Jones founded an independent jazz label, WJ3 Records.
In 2014, Jones filed a lawsuit against California rapper Kendrick Lamar for allegedly sampling "The Thorn" illegally in Lamar's song "Rigamortis".[4]
Discography
- Vol. 1...Straight Swingin' (WJ3, 2001)
- Vol. 2...Don't Knock The Swing (WJ3, 2003)
- Vol. III (WJ3, 2006)
- The Next Phase (WJ3, 2010)
- Willie Jones III Sextet Plays The Max Roach Songbook (WJ3, 2013)
- Groundwork (WJ3, 2016)[5]
With Black Note
- 43rd & Degnan (World Stage, 1991)
- L.A. Underground (Red, 1993)
- Jungle Music (Columbia, 1994)
- Nothin' But The Swing (Impulse!, 1996)[3]
As sideman
| Year recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Akagi, KeiKei Akagi | Mirror Puzzle | AudioQuest |
| 2005 | Zak, PeterPeter Zak | For Tomorrow | SteepleChase |
| 2009 | Walton, CedarCedar Walton | Voices Deep Within | HighNote |
| 2011 | Walton, CedarCedar Walton | The Bouncer | HighNote |
| 2013 | Zak, PeterPeter Zak | The Disciple | SteepleChase |
References
- ↑ "Willie Jones III - Jazz Drummer". Willie Jones III - Jazz Drummer. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ Chadbourne, Eugene. "Willie Jones III | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- 1 2 Yanow, Scott. "Black/Note | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ↑ "Jazz Drummer Willie Jones III Sues Rapper Kendrick Lamar Over Stolen Sample". The Jazz Line. The Jazz Line. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ↑ "Willie Jones III | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2016.