Jimmy Jones (1918-82) was a sophisticated and harmonically advanced pianist who emerged out of the swing era. He made his recording debut with violinist Stuff Smith (being a regular member of his trio during 1943-45), played with Don Byas and Buck Clayton, and had a long association with Sarah Vaughan (1947-58). Jones was a busy pianist and arranger for decades and appeared on many sessions including with Clayton, Vaughan, Harry Edison, Johnny Hodges, Illinois Jacquet, and Ben Webster.
Despite his talents, Jones preferred to be in the background and did not care much for taking solos. So while he appeared as a sideman as late as a 1976 record with guitarist Kenny Burrell, his last date as a leader was in 1954. In fact, with just a few exceptions (four improvisations for Session in 1944 that have never been reissued, private recordings of three songs with a trio that are also from 1944, and three combo sessions during 1946-47), all of his dates as a leader fit securely on the single CD titled The Splendid Mr. Jones – Trio & Solo.
Jimmy Jones is featured in a 1954 trio with bassist Joe Benjamin and drummer Roy Haynes, a 1952 combo with bassist Billy Hadnott and drummer J.C. Heard, playing a brief version of Duke Ellington’s “New World A-Comin’” and, from 1947, with bassist Al Hall, either Denzil Best or Bill Clarke on drums and (on one song apiece) guitarist Al Casey and
