About Philly Joe Jones
Lived 1923 – 1985 (aged 62). Philly Joe Jones was an American drummer, jazz musician and percussionist.
Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American jazz drummer. He was noted for being able to adjust his style of playing to allow for any group or individual's needs. He was in the US Army during World War II. Davis acknowledged that Jones was his favorite drummer, performing and recording with musicians including Archie Shepp, Mal Waldron and Hank Mobley. For two years (1967–1969) Jones taught at a specially organized school in Hampstead, London, but was prevented from otherwise working in the UK by the Musicians' Union. His 1968 album Mo' Joe (also released as Trailways Express) was recorded in London with local musicians (including Peter King, Harold McNair, Chris Pyne, Kenny Wheeler and others).
Later years Jones toured with Bill Evans in 1976 and 1978, recorded for Galaxy in 1977–1979, and made studio and live recordings with Red Garland in 1977.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
As sideman
With Chet Baker Chet Baker in New York (Riverside, 1959) – rec. 1958 Chet Baker Introduces Johnny Pace with Johnny Pace (Riverside, 1959) – rec. 1958
With Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' (Blue Note, 1958) Sonny Clark Trio (Blue Note, 1958) – rec. 1957
With Miles Davis The Musings of Miles (Prestige, 1955) Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige, 1956) Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige, 1956) Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige, 1956) Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige, 1956) Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige, 1956) 'Round About Midnight (Columbia, 1957) Porgy and Bess (Columbia, 1958) Milestones (Columbia, 1958)
With Kenny Drew Kenny Drew Trio (Riverside, 1956) Pal Joey (Riverside, 1958) – rec. 1957
With Bill Evans 1958: Everybody Digs Bill Evans (Riverside, 1959) 1959: On Green Dolphin Street (Milestone, 1995) 1962: Interplay (Riverside, 1963) 1962: Loose Blues (Milestone, 1977) 1967: California Here I Come (Verve, 1982) 1976: Quintessence (Fantasy, 1977)
With Art Farmer Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce (Prestige, 1955) Brass Shout (United Artists, 1959)
With Red Garland Red's Good Groove (Jazzland, 1962) Keystones! (Xanadu, 1977) Crossings (Galaxy, 1978)
With Benny Golson The Other Side of Benny Golson (Riverside, 1958) Benny Golson and the Philadelphians (United Artists, 1958)
With Dexter Gordon Dexter Calling... (Blue Note, 1961) Landslide (Blue Note, 1980) – rec. 1961-1962
With Ernie Henry Seven Standards and a Blues (Riverside, 1957) Last Chorus (Riverside, 1956–1957)
With Elmo Hope The Elmo Hope Trio (Blue Note, 1953) Here's Hope! (Celebrity, 1961) High Hope! (Beacon, 1961) Homecoming! (Riverside, 1961) Sounds from Rikers Island (Audio Fidelity, 1963) The Final Sessions (Evidence, 1996) – rec. 1966
With Freddie Hubbard Goin' Up (Blue Note, 1960) Hub Cap (Blue Note, 1961) Here to Stay (Blue Note, 1962)
With Bobby Hutcherson Four Seasons (Timeless, 1985) – rec. 1983 Good Bait (Landmark, 1985) – rec. 1984
With Duke Jordan Duke's Artistry (SteepleChase, 1978) The Great Session (SteepleChase, 1981) – rec. 1978
With Abbey Lincoln It's Magic (Riverside, 1958) Abbey Is Blue (Riverside, 1959)
With Herbie Mann Salute to the Flute (Epic, 1957) Herbie Mann's African Suite (United Artists, 1959)
With Howard McGhee The Return of Howard McGhee (Bethlehem, 1956) – rec. 1955. reissued as That Bop Thing (Bethlehem, 1978)
With Blue Mitchell Big 6 (Riverside, 1958) Smooth as the Wind (Riverside, 1961) – rec. 1960–1961
With Hank Mobley 1957: Hank (Blue Note, 1957) 1957: Poppin' (Blue Note, 1980) 1961: Workout (Blue Note, 1962) 1961: Another Workout (Blue Note, 1985) 1963: No Room for Squares (Blue Note, 1964) 1969: The Flip (Blue Note, 1970)
With Phineas Newborn Jr. Phineas' Rainbow (RCA Victor, 1956) A World of Piano! (Contemporary, 1961)
With Sonny Rollins Tenor Madness (Prestige, 1956) Newk's Time (Blue Note, 1957)
With Archie Shepp Blasé (BYG Actuel, 1969) Archie Shepp & Philly Joe Jones (America, 1969)
With Clark Terry Serenade to a Bus Seat (Riverside, 1957) In Orbit (Riverside, 1958)
With others Chris Anderson, Inverted Image (Jazzland, 1961) Evans Bradshaw, Look Out for Evans Bradshaw! (Riverside, 1958) Clifford Brown, Memorial Album (Blue Note, 1953) Kenny Burrell, Ellington Is Forever Volume Two (Fantasy, 1975) Joe Castro, Mood Jazz (Atlantic, 1957) Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge (Capitol, 1956) Paul Chambers, Go (Vee-Jay, 1959) John Coltrane, Blue Train (Blue Note, 1958) Bennie Green, Bennie Green with Art Farmer with Art Farmer (Prestige, 1956) Johnny Griffin, Way Out! (Riverside, 1959) Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery, Bags Meets Wes! (Riverside, 1962) Clifford Jordan, The Rotterdam Session (Audio Daddio, 1985) Warne Marsh, Warne Marsh (Atlantic, 1958) Yoshiaki Miyanoue, Song for Wes (King Records, 1979) J. R. Monterose, J. R. Monterose (Blue Note, 1956) Art Pepper, Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary, 1957) Bud Powell, Time Waits (Blue Note, 1958) Jimmy Smith, Softly as a Summer Breeze (Blue Note, 1958) Sonny Stitt, Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass (Atlantic, 1962) The Manhattan Transfer, Vocalese (Atlantic, 1985) Ben Webster, Soulmates with Joe Zawinul (Riverside, 1963) Jack Wilson, The Two Sides of Jack Wilson (Atlantic, 1964) Phil Woods, Pairing Off (Prestige, 1956)
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Philly Joe Jones's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Philly Joe Jones's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Philly Joe Jones?
American jazz drummer (1923–1985)
When was Philly Joe Jones born?
Philly Joe Jones was born on 15 July 1923 in Philadelphia.
When did Philly Joe Jones die?
Philly Joe Jones died on 30 August 1985 in Philadelphia.
What was Philly Joe Jones's occupation?
Philly Joe Jones was a drummer, jazz musician and percussionist.
What nationality was Philly Joe Jones?
Philly Joe Jones was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Philly Joe Jones. https://biography.guide/philly-joe-jones/
MLA: "Philly Joe Jones." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/philly-joe-jones/.
Chicago: "Philly Joe Jones." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/philly-joe-jones/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-24 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:08 UTC