Willie Jones III

Bands led by stellar drummers—Max Roach, Elvin Jones, and Roy Haynes, for example—play to international jazz audiences keen to hear hard-edged jazz. Not a subcategory, bop or hard bop is jazz. For his debut recording, Straight Swingin’ (WJ3 Records), drummer Willie Jones Ill steers clear of soft pop influences. As a member of Roy Hargrove’s Quintet since 1997, he has developed a repertoire of distinct rhythms admired by worldwide fans loyal to this high art.

For his “Volume I” date, Jones enlists major-leaguer Eric Reed, a mainstay pianist who plays with Wynton Marsalis. Reed unreels engaging runs a la early McCoy Tyner, and offers articulate vectors of melody on ballads and fluency in displays of speed.

Jones includes two accomplished colleagues from the Hargrove band, bassist Gerald Cannon and Sherman Irby on alto. Making more of a duet than a duel, the altoists’ sizzling repartee closes “Blues for Dat Taz” and signals their different takes on “Little G’s Walk,” a complex, musical portrait.

PERSONNEL:

• Willie Jones III - drums
• Dwight Trible - vocals
• Sherman Irby, James Mahone - alto saxophone
• Eric Reed, Billy Childs - piano
• Gerald Cannon, Tony Dumas - bass

Recorded: Between April 10, 1996 and September 10, 1999

TRACKS:

• 01. Untitled (Straight Swingin')
• 02. Blues For Dat Taz
• 03. Jessica's Theme
• 04. Wide Open
• 05. Ornate
• 06. Ballad
• 07. Little G's Walk
• 08. Naima