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Ed Jones has been based in London for over 20 years. He works in the UK and internationally with a wide range of his own projects and collaborations
He formed his first group “Ed Jones Quartet” in 1987 featuring Geoff Williams:piano,Rob Statham:Bass,and Winston Clifford:Drums.They were the first band to play at the old Jazz Cafe on Newington Green. A regular performer on the emerging Acid Jazz scene at clubs such as The Wag and Dingwalls, he was signed by Giles Peterson and recorded his first album ”The Homecoming” (Acid Jazz, 1989).
In 1991 he formed a new quartet with Jonathon Gee:piano,Wayne Batchelor: Double Bass and Braian Abrahams:Drums.They recorded “Pipers Tales” in 1991 which saw the light of day (ASC, 1995). Between 1995-2004 his main on going ‘solo’ project was a quintet (featuring Byron Wallen: Trpt,Jonathan Gee:Piano,Geoff Gascoyne:Double Bass,Winston Clifford:Drums) with which he has recorded ”Out Here” (ASC, 1997).In 1997 Finnish Trumpeter Mika Myllari joined the band for the first of many collaborations and recorded “Seven Moments” (ASC 2002).
His 5th album “A view from the…” featuring the ed/ge project was released in spring 2004.This was a Hip/Hop/Beats/ Big Band collaboration with programmer/producer Geoff Wilkinson of US3.
In 2004 he was commissioned by Southern Arts to write a composition for woodwinds/piano/beats/electronics inspired by the work of the English artist Francis Bacon 
entitled “Triptych (3 accidents)” This was released as part of the Digital Directions album and will be remixed and re-released as part of his next solo recording 2010.
In 2005 he formed Killer Shrimp (co-led) with Trumpeter Damon Brown. The group recorded the highly acclaimed Sincerely Whatever (33 records)in 2006 mixing dance genres and electronica with acoustic jazz. The cd was top of many critics best of list that year and was nominated for Jazz cd of the year 2007 parliamentary jazz awards. The group were awarded Best Jazz Ensemble 2007 at the same awards.
He has made musical connections in many countries particularly in Japan where he tours regularly and runs two projects; EJQ (a jazz quartet), and Quasimodo, an electric project featuring the legendary Paul Jackson (Headhunters) on bass. In 2005 he was commissioned by the British Council to compose and perform 1000 Plateaus based on the writings of Gilles Deleuze as part of the Expo in Japan.In the same year he toured Japan performing a tribute to Miles Davis (which featured dj’s and vj’s from japan with Quasimodo).In 2010 he co-led an Anglo-Japanese project Tokyo-London Connection with Yutaka Shiina (Piano)and Damon Brown(trumpet)
In Scandinavia he has been collaborating for many years with Finnish trumpeter/composer Mika Myllari on a number of projects including the 10-piece ensemble Burn (for which the 
BBC/Jazz on 3/Bath Festival commissioned) as well as the evolving orchestral/beats project Dark Ages. He has also recorded and toured with the Danish/Swedish/Uk Trio Stekpanna,and is currently featured in a new project of Finnish Vocalist Reija Lang:BURN OUT MAMAThey recorded an album this year and its just been released entitled OUT OF OFFICE
His experience as a sideman reflects his diverse interests. Over the past decade he has performed with U.S jazz musicians George Benson, Dianne Reeves, Charles Earland, Horace Silver, Clifford Jarvis and Dr Lonnie Smith. In the UK he has appeared with Dick Heckstall-Smith, John Stevens, District Six, Evan Parker, Jason Rebello, Orphey Robinson,Claire Martin, Don Weller, Byron Wallen, Tim Richard’s Great Spirit, Damon Brown, Monk Liberation Front ,Jonathon Gee
As a session musician he has worked with amongst others Chaka Khan, D’Angelo, Herbie Hancock (Headhunters),Omar, Aswad, Tina Turner, Caleen Anderson, Alison Moyet, Philip Bailey, Bootsy Collins, Kid Creole,Mori Kante.
Ed Jones played with the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio who were:
Roger Odell – Drums
Roger was one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group Shakatak and the forerunner band Tracks. Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day.
Simon Brown – Piano
Leading UK Jazz innovator and musical entrepreneur Simon Brown is a highly respected and popular jazz pianist who is equally known for his arranging skills. His bands include the quintet Beyond Cantaloupe featuring the music of Herbie Hancock, as well a the very popular Simon Brown Trio and Quartet. He is also a stalwart of the Jazznights Trio with Roger Odell and Bernie Hodgkins.
Bernie Hodgkins – Double Bass
Bernie grew up in a Jazz-oriented family and has toured in Europe and further afield with a wide variety of artists and honed his skills and adding to his prodigious repertoire. Spending much of his time in the recording studios, he is equally at home and in demand as an enthusiastic “live” rhythm section player.
Larraine Odell – Vocals
Larraine began her professional singing career with the group CMU with whom she recorded two albums, Larraine performed at numerous venues throughout the UK and Europe, including the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall. Boxford Fleece & Ronnie Scott’s
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was the erudite Gareth Williams-James
Larraine Odell opened the first set to sing some great jazz standards including:
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was is a popular song. The music was written by Richard Rodgers and the lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical Too Many Girls (1939).
Cole Porter’s I Concentrate On You from the 1940 film Broadway Melody.
Eternally is a song with music by Charles Chaplin, and words by the English lyricists Geoff Parsons and John Turner.
Crazy He Calls Me is a song with lyrics by Bob Russell & music by Carl Sigman.
Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise is a tune written by Sigmund Romberg with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was written for the 1928 operetta “The New Moon.
Ed Jones then joined the Jazznights Trio to play extended versions of Ed’s favourite jazz tunes which included:
Bye Bye Blackbird which is a song published in 1926 by the American composer Ray Henderson. It was first recorded by Sam Lanin’s Dance Orchestra in March 1926.
On Green Dolphin Street (originally entitled “Green Dolphin Street”) is a 1947 popular song and jazz standard composed by Bronisław Kaper .
My One And Only Love was originally composed by Guy Warren in 1947. In 1952, Robert Mellin wrote a new title and lyrics for the song, and it was republished that year as “My One and Only Love”. When Frank Sinatra recorded it in 1953.
Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s we had the traditional Jazznights sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an opportunity to play with the band. Tonight we had Geoff Harriman playing Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered on his harmonica.
Ed Jones then re-joined the band to play:
Stella By Starlight is arguably one of the most popular jazz standards of all time. It was 
written by Victor Young and was featured in the 1944 film “The Uninvited”
My Ideal is a tune written by Richard Whiting, Leo Robin and Newell Chase. This a beautiful ballad that has been performed and recorded by some of the greatest in jazz.
How Deep Is the Ocean is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1932, and can be heard in the background of the 1933 film The Life of Jimmy Dolan. The song was introduced by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra.
Body and Soul is a popular tune written in 1930 by Johnny Green.
This is one of the most commonly played jazz ballads of all time.
Recorda-Me (Remember Me) composed by Joe Henderson the American jazz tenor saxophonist.
Sonnymoon for two is a 12 bar blues written by the great jazz tenor man Sonny Rollins, featured on his album “A Night At The Village Vanguard from 1999 (this album was one of the prizes in the Jazznights raffle this evening)
What a fantastic finale to this wonderful evening of jazz from one of the UK’s finest masters of the tenor sax. This gig was thoroughly enjoyed by the trio as much as the audience.
Sunday 5th June 2015 – NIGEL PRICE (gtr) will be at Jazz Nights
Nigel is one of the most highly regarded and in demand guitarists on the UK jazz scene today with a blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues feeling and mastery of chording that has made him instantly accessible and popular with jazz audiences. He is also a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s where he has played over 400 times.
THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Bell Hotel. Clare, Suffolk.
Admission £10. Doors open 7.00 pm. Music 7.30 – 10.00 pm.
Reserve seating on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com
Pay on the night.
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Pictures from past gigs can also be seen HERE
For further information on future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com
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