Philly Joe Jones (1923-1985) carried his birthplace as part of his name throughout most of his jazz career in order to avoid confusion with the former Basie drummer star, Jo Jones, who was his first influence.
After performing alongside many of the top names in modern jazz, Joe started gaining
widespread recognition for his contributions to Miles Davis's quintet and sextet during 1955-1958.
However, due to his forward-thinking concepts, Philly Joe may well be considered the most controversial drummer in jazz history. At first, Joe's fast-paced and busy intricacies seemed to defeat the ears of critics, but over time they began to recognize and value his approach. The amendment was given a boost, obviously, by Miles Davis’s unstinting support.
Typical is Whitney Balliett’s praise in an April 1959, New Yorker article, calling Philly “revolutionary,” and “a master of silence, dynamics and surprise,” and describing his solos as “careful, remarkably graduated structures, full of surprises, varied timbres and good old fashioned emotion.”
By 1962, having solidified his reputation, Philly Joe's foremost aspiration was to lead his own group in live shows whenever the opportunity presented itself.
This compilation unveils previously unreleased recordings from 1962, each capturing the essence of two live radio broadcasts held at New York's Birdland, hosted by the celebrated jazz disc jockey "Symphony Sid" Torin. Throughout these performances, Philly Joe seamlessly melded with a group of musicians who wholeheartedly entrusted their musical journey to his leadership. This synergy resulted in two solid gatherings, elevated by the strong solo contributions of the horn players, highlighted by several compelling solos by Elmo Hope, a piano player who left too few samples of his hard-bop chops, and enriched by Philly Joe's fiercely distinctive style as both a solo drummer and an exceptionally invigorating section player.
Philly Joe’s intricate style reverberates through a whole generation of jazz drummers, leaving an indelible mark on their work.
—Jordi Pujol
