Jonah Jones

Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

When I was in high school (late 1050s and early 1960s) I fell in love with Jonah Jones' playing. I had a bunch of his quartet recordings during that time. I wasn't hip enough to dig the more complex players of the day but Jonah's playing came through just fine. His tunes were easy to understand and his improv was basic and also easy to follow. He knew how to swing. I particularly loved his lip trills. They were beautiful. I loved his mute concept too and I bought some of the same mute toys he used. One of my favorite albums (as in old LP) was the one featuring the Jonah combined with the Glenn Gray Orchestra (it's actually a studio orchestra). Note the personnel:

Trumpets – Al Porcino, Conrad Gozzo, Joe Graves, Manny Klein, Shorty Sherock, Uan Rasey

The best of the best of the era. What a bunch of kick-ass monster players these guys were. Listen below if you don't believe me. There was some switching out between Al Porcino and Uan Rasey but don't know which tunes. This certainly doesn't have the sophistication of a Woody Shaw kind of player but I still dig it for what it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRgpVp8LBIw

falado · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 11:30 am Post subject:

Yes, need more of that!
_________________
FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
Getzen 4 valve Pic.
Yamaha D/Eb
Besson Cornet

homecookin · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Posts: 868

I agree with you about Jonah Jones.
I discovered Jonah Jones In my dad's record collection back in the sixties.
There is a clip on YouTube with Jonah Jones and Fred Astaire that is pretty cool.
Jonah Jones, in my opinion, was kind of a combination of the styles of Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge.

BeboppinFool · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 2:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting that, Larry . . . I just listened to the whole thing. Absolutely great quality stuff! I sure missed out on listening to that kind of thing when growing up. It would have given me a better point of reference for a lot of the gigs I've had to do (and didn't have a clue).

_________________
Puttinâ€™ On The Ritz

Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

kehaulani · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 4:33 pm Post subject:

I first heard Jonah on a sampler LP (remember them?) with "Surrey with the Fringe on Top"; enjoyed it so bought "Swinging on Broadway" (For the music, I think, but the cover, as I remember it, was a worthy second choice for buying it, LOL.)

He didn't grab me like he did you, but I enjoyed listening to him. At the time, I was listening more to Fats Navarro, Miles, Diz and - oh yes - Louis Prima. Very accessible player.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

giakara · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:10 am Post subject:

Thanks for posting , great stuff , for me he was very underated player , check him with Calloway small combo nail double Gs and with his Olds super.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xp6er_nq70

Regards
_________________
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2015
Lawler TL6-1A Bb 2004
Lawler TL5-1A Bb 2003
Getzen eterna 910 C
Getzen eterna 850 cornet
Selmer Paris 3 valve picc
Yamaha 731 flugel
Carol mini pocket
Reeves/Purviance mpcs

homecookin · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Posts: 868

Mac Gollehon · Veteran Member Joined: 27 Feb 2014 Posts: 255

i remember going to see him several times in 1979 or 1980 when he had a long run at Sheraton on west 53rd and 8th ave. he was swingin hard and with impeccable taste,great player great man. He also told me that when his album Muted Jazz came out he was doing a several year run at Embers and had to do almost the entire gig in various mutes as that is what the crowd was paying to hear. He came to many of my Mac,s Smokin Section gigs at the Blue Note in mid 90s and I invited him to sit in but he was no longer playing. He lived a few blocks away on Washington SQ Park.

Dayton · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:51 am Post subject:

Good stuff! Thanks for posting that link.

Grits Burgh · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 4:05 am Post subject:

Added this to my to-do list: master Jonas Jones' lip trill. Good stuff.
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 37 (1971)
Schilke HC 1
Getzen 3810 C Cornet
King Master Bb Cornet (1945)
B&S 3145 Challenger I Series Flugelhorn
Life is short; buy every horn you want and die happy.

trumpetgeekIII · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting Mr. Smithee. It's been a while Sir! I hope you are doing well...
_________________
BACH STRAD '72
LAWLER LSML
POWELL CUSTOM
ECLIPSE MY
ECLIPSE ENIGMA
ECLIPSE EQUINOX
EClIPSE FLUGEL
CALICCHIO #2555
SMITH-WATKINS

Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

DNMH · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 130

kehaulani · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2022 3:08 pm Post subject:

Louis II? Jonah had his run. got a Capitol record deal and some great, steady club work. This is just conjecture, but if he was later not a household word, I think that it was the times. He really didn't keep up with the Lee Morgans during a time when evolution in the arts was expected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2VynrlmPeQ
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

spitvalve · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2022 3:22 pm Post subject:

I found "Muted Jazz" in my local public library when I was fourteen or fifteen and I listened to it non-stop for the two weeks that I checked it out, trying to learn the tunes and copy his licks. He was a monster player, but what he played was accessible for a trumpet-obsessed teenaged kid who was just discovering jazz. In spite of only hearing one album of his, I can count him as one of my influences.
_________________
Bryan Fields
----------------
1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces

peanuts56 · Veteran Member Joined: 21 Nov 2021 Posts: 230

I had a booklet from the NY Brass Conference someone gave me years ago. There was a long interview with Jonah in it. Very interesting, he was about 82 at the time and still playing very well. He was actually taking lessons at the time from Jimmy Maxwell looking to improve his chops.
There was also an extensive interview with Uan Rasey.
I actually tossed the booklet out a couple of days ago after not looking at it for maybe 15-20 years.

GeorgeB · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2022 2:24 am Post subject:

Oh, I remember Jonah. Sure he was great but in those days there were so many greats. I remember trying to find a music shop that carried his LP albums and they weren't available in my corner of the world. No you tube or Amazon in those days either.
George
_________________
GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet

plankowner110 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 3620

Fine playing by Jonah Jones on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" with Cab Calloway. Check out the cadenza at the end! Jonah Jones was one of my trumpet heroes when I was young.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8GcWQV3kx0
_________________
C. G. Conn 60B Super Connstellation
Getzen 800S Eterna cornet
Bach 5C (Jens Lindemann is right)
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26763