Jo Jones was born on October 7, 1911 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up to become one of the most influential drummers in jazz history. He is credited with promoting the use of brushes on the drums as well as moving the essential pulse from the bass drum to the hi-hat. He is best known for his years as the drummer in Count Basie’s “All-American Rhythm Section,” along with Basie, guitarist Freddie Green and bassist Walter Page.

He began his career as a youth travelling the American south and performing as a drummer and tap dancer with carnival shows. He also could play the saxophone and piano. In the late 1920s he joined Walter Page’s Blue Devils, a territory band from Oklahoma City and later played with Lloyd Hunter’s Serenaders before becoming a member of the Basie ensemble in 1934. He stayed with Basie until 1948, with a two-year break during World War II for military service.

In addition to being known for his amazing abilities as a percussionist, Jones was also known for his occasional outbursts of temper. The best known of these was the night in Kansas City when, during a jam session, he threw his cymbal at the feet of a 16-year-old saxophonist named Charlie Parker to get him to leave the stage because Parker got lost in the changes.

After leaving Basie, Jo Jones made 11 albums as a leader and played as a sideman with artists such as Art Blakey, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson and Woody Herman. Jones’ playing contrasted with the bass drum heavy sound of contemporaries like Gene Krupa, and served as an influence for younger drummers like Kenny Clarke, Roy Haynes, Louis Bellson and Max Roach.

Jo Jones passed away from pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75.

Here is a link to a 1964 drum solo by Jo Jones:

"CARAVAN"