Thad Jones
A harmonically advanced trumpeter/cornetist with a distinctive sound, as well as a talented arranger/composer, Thad Jones (the younger brother of Hank and older brother of Elvin) had a very productive career. Self-taught on trumpet, he started playing professionally with Hank Jones and Sonny Stitt when he was 16. After serving in the military (1943-1946), Jones worked in territory bands in the Midwest. During 1950-1953 he performed regularly with Billy Mitchell's quintet in Detroit and he made a few recordings with Charles Mingus (1954-1955). Jones became well-known during his long period (1954-1963) with Count Basie's Orchestra, taking a "Pop Goes the Weasel" chorus on "April in Paris," and sharing solo duties with Joe Newman. While with Basie, Jones had the opportunity to write some arrangements and he became a busy freelance writer after 1963. He joined the staff of CBS, co-led a quintet with Pepper Adams, and near the end of 1965, organized a big band with drummer Mel Lewis that from February 1966 on, played Monday nights at the Village Vanguard. During the next decade the orchestra (although always a part-time affair) became famous and gave Jones an outlet for his writing. He composed one standard ("A Child Is Born") along with many fine pieces including "Fingers," "Little Pixie," and "Tiptoe." Among the sidemen in the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra (which started out as an all-star group and later on featured younger players) were trumpeters Bill Berry, Danny Stiles, Richard Williams, Marvin Stamm, Snooky Young, and Jon Faddis, trombonists Bob Brookmeyer, Jimmy Knepper, and Quentin Jackson, the reeds of Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Eddie Daniels, Joe Farrell, Pepper Adams, and Billy Harper, pianists Hank Jones and Roland Hanna, and bassists Richard Davis and George Mraz. In 1978, Jones surprised Lewis by suddenly leaving the band and moving to Denmark, an action he never explained. He wrote for a radio orchestra and led his own group called Eclipse. In late 1984 Jones took over the leadership of the Count Basie Orchestra but within a year bad health forced him to retire. Thad Jones recorded as a leader for Debut (1954-1955), Blue Note, Period, United Artists, Roulette, Milestone, Solid State, Artists House, A&M, Metronome, and many of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra's best recordings have been reissued on a five-CD Mosaic box set.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Detroit - New York Junction
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Essential Jazz Masters 1954-1959
Jazz - Released by Vintage Masters Inc. on 1 Nov 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Motor City Scene
Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 21 May 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Detroit - New York Junction
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I'm Looking for an Angel
Jazz - Released by for an angel again on 27 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Giants of Jazz
Jazz - Released by School of Jazz Records on 1 May 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Fabulous Thad Jones
Jazz - Released by Mile End on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Detroit - New York Junction
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Fabulous Thad Jones
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Jazz Masters Collection: Thad Jones, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 23 Jun 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Slipped Again, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic Jones, Vol. 2: Motor City Scene
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic Jones, Vol. 1: The Fabulous
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Detroit - New York Junction
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Magnificent
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Fabulous
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Meet And Greet On Broadway
Jazz - Released by classics & more on 23 Feb 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -