Oliver Jones (pianist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oliver Jones
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Oliver Jones in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Oliver Theophilus Jones |
| Born | September 11, 1934 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, educator |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1940–present |
| Associated acts | Charlie Biddle, Ranee Lee, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, Clark Terry |
Oliver Theophilus Jones, OC CQ (born September 11, 1934) is a famous Canadian jazz musician. He plays the piano and organ, writes music, and arranges songs. In 2023, he was honored by being added to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Contents
Oliver Jones's Musical Journey
Oliver Jones was born in Little Burgundy, a neighborhood in Montreal, Quebec. His parents were from Barbados. He started playing the piano when he was just five years old. He learned from Mme Bonner at the Union United Church, a church made famous by the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir.
Learning from a Master
When Oliver was eight, he continued his piano lessons with Daisy Peterson Sweeney. She was the sister of another famous jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson. Besides playing at his church, Oliver also performed in clubs and theaters around Montreal. He even had a special "trick piano act" where he would dance and play in unusual ways!
Early Performances and Tours
Oliver started touring early in his career. He played with a band called Bandwagon in Vermont and Quebec. From 1953 to 1963, he mostly performed in the Montreal area.
Later, from 1964 to 1980, Oliver worked as the music director for Kenny Hamilton. Kenny was a calypso singer from Jamaica, and they were based in Puerto Rico.
Playing at Biddles Jazz Club
In the early 1980s, Oliver teamed up with Charlie Biddle, a well-known musician in Montreal. They played together in local clubs and hotel lounges. Oliver was the main pianist at Charlie Biddle's jazz club, 'Biddles', from 1981 to 1986. His very first album, Live at Biddles, was recorded there in 1983. It was also the first record released by the Justin Time record label.
Touring the World
By the mid-1980s, Oliver Jones was traveling all over Canada. He performed at music festivals, concerts, and clubs. Sometimes he played by himself, and other times with his trio. His trio included Skip Bey, Bernard Primeau, and Archie Alleyne. During this time, he also toured in Europe.
In 1990, Oliver's tour of Nigeria was featured in a documentary film. It was called Oliver Jones in Africa and was made by the National Film Board of Canada. His music was also used in another animated short film called Black Soul. In 1998, Oliver wrote and performed the music for a documentary film. This film, Season of Change, was about Jackie Robinson's time with the Montreal Royals baseball team in 1946.
Oliver continued to perform at major events. In 2011, he was a big name at the P.E.I. Jazz and Blues Festival in Charlottetown. He also headlined the Jazz Sudbury Festival in 2013.
Oliver Jones as an Educator
Besides being a performer, Oliver Jones also taught music. He taught at Laurentian University from 1987 to 1995. He also taught at McGill University from 1988 to 1995.
In 2009, Oliver helped mentor another jazz artist named Dione Taylor. This was part of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Mentorship Program. This program connects experienced artists with newer ones. They work together to learn from each other.
Awards and Honors for Oliver Jones
Oliver Jones has received many important awards and honors throughout his career.
- Officer of the Order of Canada (1993): This is one of Canada's highest honors.
- National Order of Québec (1994): He was given the rank of Chevalier (Knight) in this special order.
- Governor General's Performing Arts Award (2005): This is Canada's top award for performing artists.
Oliver has also won several music awards:
- Juno Award: He won this award in 1986 for his album Lights of Burgundy. He won again in 2009 for Second Time Around. He has been nominated for this award nine other times.
- Félix Award: He received this award in 1989, 1994, 2007, and 2008.
- Keyboardist of the Year: The National Jazz Awards voted him keyboardist of the year in 2006.
- Oscar Peterson Award (1990)
- Special Achievement Award (1999): He received this at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto.
- Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2023): He was inducted into this Hall of Fame, recognizing his lasting impact on Canadian music.
Oliver Jones's Music Albums
Oliver Jones has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- 1982: Oliver Jones et Charlie Biddle (with Charlie Biddle)
- 1983: Live at Biddle's Jazz & Ribs (with his trio)
- 1984: The Many Moods of Oliver Jones (solo piano)
- 1985: Lights of Burgundy (a Juno Award-winning album)
- 1987: Speak Low, Swing Hard
- 1987: Cookin' at Sweet Basil (recorded live in concert)
- 1989: Just Friends (with Clark Terry)
- 1990: Northern Summit (with Herb Ellis and Red Mitchell)
- 1991: A Class Act
- 1993: Just 88 (solo piano)
- 1994: Yuletide Swing (a holiday album)
- 1995: From Lush to Lively (with an orchestra)
- 1997: Have Fingers Will Travel (with Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton)
- 1998: Just In Time (recorded live in concert)
- 2002: Then & Now (with Skip Bey)
- 2005: Just You, Just Me (with Ranee Lee)
- 2006: One More Time
- 2008: Second Time Around (a Juno Award-winning album)
- 2009: Pleased to Meet You (with Hank Jones)
- 2010: A Celebration in Time (with Ranee Lee and the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir)
- 2012: Live in Baden Switzerland (recorded in 1990, released later)
- 2013: Just for My Lady
