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Alan Jones (born August 5, 1962) is an American jazz drummer, composer and educator. Born in Longview, Washington, he moved to Portland, Oregon at an early age and took up the drums and guitar as a young child. Jones' first experience in his early career was with Count Dutch, an organist from Amsterdam who hired Jones to work with him as a drummer. His first album was Unsafe which was published in 1998.

Biography

Early life

Jones moved to Portland Oregon at an early age. He began playing the drums and guitar as a young child and had some instruction from local Jazz Pianist and Educator Arletta O'hearn Jones spent his high school years soaking in the vibrant local music scene. "I saw Dexter Gordon when I was in high school," recalls Jones, who sneaked in an upstairs window to soak up the music before he was caught and ejected". Jones was inspired by Jazz musicians Saxophonist Sonny King, John Stowell and Mel Brown as well as Jim Pepper and David Friesen who would help establish his early career. One of the first such experiences was provided by an organist from Amsterdam named Count Dutch, who hired Jones to work with him on the road after hearing him play at one of Dutch's jam sessions. These tours also presented an opportunity to play extensively with Saxophonist Jim Pepper, a relationship that Jones would build on in the future. This musical period lasted until Dutch's premature death three years later.

The 1980s: early tours and New York

After moving to Boston in 1980 Jones graduated from the Berklee College of Music where he studied with the jazz drummer Alan Dawson. During this time he spent two summers at the Banff Center for the Fine Arts in Canada and also made appearances in his home town of Portland. Jones moved to New York City in 1984 and as a tenant of the same Brooklyn apartment building as Jim Pepper and bassist Ben Wolfe, where he organized many jam sessions.

In 1985 while still in New York City, Jones met Canadian Saxophonist Phil Dwyer and they both performed as members of the David Friesen trio, a tenure which lasted into the next decade.

1988—1995: Europe

In 1988, Jones moved to Europe splitting his home between Vienna and Paris. This led to Jones sharing leadership and compositional duties with bandmates in The Fensters and performing at Europe's leading jazz festivals. This also coincided with tours of England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Czech Republic.

During his time in Europe, Jones also continued to tour with The David Friesen Trio throughout the U.S. and extensively up and down the West Coast as well as additional dates in Canada with Kenny Wheeler. During this time Jones made a number of recordings with this group including David Friesen's well received 1989 release Other Times, Other Places.

In the early 1990s Jones continued to perform with Friesen as a member of his quartet with saxophonist John Gross and Trumpeter Gary Barone.

1996—2004: The Alan Jones Sextet

Upon returning to Portland in 1996, Jones stepped further into the roll of band leader and composer with the formation of The Alan Jones Sextet. Jones leveraged John Gross and Randy Porter from earlier work in David Friesen's group as well as other Portland musicians. Their recording first established Jones working with Gino Vannelli, who produced their first recording, Unsafe.

As a composer, Jones' work was described by music critic Jim Strupp as "intelligent explorations on familiar jazz forms" whose "arrangements are interesting and accessible". This group went on to record three albums and the sextet which emphasized Jones compositions, represented a chance for Jones to more fully explore his creative output as a composer. "It's Jones' compositions that are primarily responsible for the excitement" wrote Lynn Darroch of The Oregonian which is echoed in yet another review from this period "The Sextet's sound is primarily the result of Jones' vision and courage."

In 2001 Jones was commissioned by production designer and puppet artist Michael Curry to write the music for a large stage production called Spirits. The result was a jazz and world music infused score for dance and theater the sound track of which was released independently on Jones' own label record.

2005—2007: Germany

In 2005 Jones move back to Europe this time living in Germany where he worked with Olaf Polziehn and Peter Bolte Quartet, among others.

2008—present

In 2008, Jones returned to reside in Portland, Oregon. In May of that year, Jones opened a jazz club called The Cave.

In the Summer of 2013 Jones toured Canada with his Alan Jones, a Canadian Sextet featuring Phil Dwyer, Seamus Blake, Ingrid Jensen, Jon Ballantyne and Tom Wakeling.

In 2014 Jones put together a new Portland based sextet with Greg Goebel, Charlie Porter, John Nastos, Nicole Glover and Jon Lakey and is currently planning to record a new album in 2015

Career as an educator

After teaching at Portland State University in 2010, Jones went on to establish the Alan Jones Academy of Music. The school describes itself as "an education system focused on personal and collective improvisation" that "works with students of all ages". Students have been involved in projects ranging from collaborating with Michael Curry on multimedia stage presentations, playing at international jazz festivals and has received prestigious scholarships. Jones also works as a clinician and private instructor while continuing an active world-wide recording and touring schedule.

Discography

As leader

As a sideman

References

1. "Past Festival Artists". Oregon Jazz Festival. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
2. ^ "O'hearn Arletta". abebooks.com. March 30, 1992. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
3. ^ Barend and Trees in Holland. "Gino Vannelli's work as producer for the Alan Jones Sextet". tripod.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
4. "Jazz de Opus". oregonencyclopedia.org. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
5. "Count Dutch Archives « Oregon Music News Oregon Music News". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
6. ^ Alan Jones: The Jam. Petrichor's Melody Productions. September 9, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
7. Oregonian (Published as The Oregonian) - Friday, October 8, 1982
8. AAJ Staff. "If I can make it here". All About Jazz. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
9. "Phil Dwyer". canadajazz.net. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
10. "The Fensters". Bimhuis Jazz Amsterdam. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
11. "Jazz Reviews: Jazz Music, Vol. XThe Fensters - By Doug Ramsey — Jazz Articles". jazztimes.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
12. "Gary Barone :: jrs.org". jrs.org. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
13. ^ Willamette Week April 14–20, 1988
14. "David Friesen". billboard.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
15. HUGHLEY, MARTY. "SOUNDCHECK NOTES FROM THE NORTHWEST MUSIC SCENE," Oregonian, The (Portland, OR), January 2, 2004: 12, accessed October 31, 2014, http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0FFDB5C4D768EF03?p=AMNEWS.
16. Alan Jones talks to Oregon Music News about his new sextet2. YouTube. September 23, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
17. Lynn Darroch September 8, 1996 The Oregonian
18. December 12, 1997 The Oregonian Arts and entertainment guide
19. West, Martha Ullman (2001-06-03). "DANCE; Assembling To Put In Motion A Gathering Of Spirits". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
20. "Alan Jones - Spirits - CD Baby Music Store". cdbaby.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
21. Joseph Blake. "Jazz Port Townsend 2004". All About Jazz. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
22. "SATIN DOLL PRODUCTIONS - Olaf Polziehn Trio feat. Scott Hamilton: Live at Jazztone Lörrach". satindoll.de. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
23. "Digitale Bourgeoisie » jazz-transfer 2006". steamtalks.de. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
24. "Review: The Cave, new jazz venue". oregonlive.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
25. "Alan Jones Archives « Oregon Music News Oregon Music News". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on July 21, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
26. "Alan Jones Sextet Storyline Album - Indiegogo". Indiegogo. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
27. "AJAM - Alan Jones Academy of Music - Portland, Oregon". Retrieved March 30, 2015.
28. "AJAM - Alan Jones Academy of Music - Portland, Oregon". Retrieved March 30, 2015.
29. "About". Barra Brown. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
30. "Global Jazz Ambassadors and Adam Cruz Play Newport". berklee.edu. Retrieved March 30, 2015.

External links

• Alan Jones Music
• Alan Jones Academy of Music
• Origin Arts
• Plazm CD Art

• Musicians from Portland, Oregon
• 1962 births
• People from Longview, Washington
• Living people
• American jazz drummers
• 20th-century American drummers
• American male drummers
• 20th-century American male musicians
• American male jazz musicians
• Jazz musicians from Oregon
• Jazz musicians from Washington (state)