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 (Rudy Van Gelder Edition/2006 Digital Remaster)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 22 Jun 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Magnificent Thad Jones Vol.3 (Remastered 1997)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 27 Jan 1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Magnificent Thad Jones (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 14 Jul 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Fabulous Thad Jones
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 19 Mar 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard (Live)
Thad Jones, Mel Lewis Orchestra
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Released by Resonance Records on 19 Feb 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At The Village Vanguard (Live)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jun 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live On Tour Switzerland (Live)
Jazz - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Blue Notes, Vol. 3
Jutta Hipp, Zoot Sims, Thad Jones
Blues - Released by Documents 2 on 14 Oct 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Consummation (Remixed & Remastered 1994)
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mean What You Say
Thad Jones, Pepper Adams Quintet
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 1 Jan 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Central Park North
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 1 Jan 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Motor City Scene
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on 21 May 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Thad Jones, Mel Lewis & UMO
Pop - Released by WM Finland on 14 Jun 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Jazz Masters Collection: Thad Jones, Vol. 3
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 23 Jun 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Opus De Blues
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 3 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Featuring Miss Ruth Brown
Jazz - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 16 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Tribute to Bird and Monk (Thad Jones)
Jazz - Released by Labor Records on 1 Jan 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Orchestra
Jazz - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 17 Jun 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo