Randy Jones (drummer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randy Jones
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Randall Hodges Jones |
| Born | January 23, 1944 Slough, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Died | June 13, 2016 (aged 72) The Bronx, New York City, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Years active | 1960–2016 |
| Associated acts | |
Randall Hodges Jones (born January 23, 1944 – died June 13, 2016) was a talented jazz drummer. He was born in Britain but later became an American citizen. Randy was known for his amazing drumming skills in jazz music.
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About Randy Jones
Randy Jones was born in Slough, England. He was a very flexible musician. He could play drums for a large big band or for smaller groups. Randy started playing music professionally when he was just 16 years old. He toured Germany with a rock and roll band from England. He also played drums for rock and pop stars on TV shows. Randy performed live on stage and recorded music in studios too.
Playing with Maynard Ferguson
In 1969, Randy joined Maynard Ferguson's band. Maynard Ferguson was a famous bandleader. His band played a popular style called jazz/rock fusion. This music mixed jazz with rock sounds. Randy played with Ferguson for six years. He performed on many classic albums. These included M.F. Horn (1970) and M.F. Horn Two (1972). He also played on M.F. Horn 3 (1973) and M.F. Horn 4&5: Live At Jimmy's.
Moving to the United States
Randy moved to the United States in 1972. He made New York City his home. Soon, he became well-known for his drumming. He played with many famous singers. These included Tony Bennett, Billy Eckstine, and Cleo Laine. He also played with great instrumentalists. Some of them were Chet Baker, Milt Jackson, Gerry Mulligan, and Bill Watrous.
Joining the Dave Brubeck Quartet
In 1980, Randy was asked to join the Dave Brubeck Quartet. This was a very famous jazz group. Randy played with them until Dave Brubeck passed away in 2012. During this time, Randy toured all over the world. He played in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. He appeared with the quartet on many TV shows. He also recorded several albums with them. Some of these albums were for labels like Concord and EMI.
Randy's Music Style
Randy loved collecting classical music records. This love for classical music showed in his drum solos. He created complex and interesting drum patterns. He was especially good at playing in complex time signatures. These are tricky rhythms that are not common. Some of his important albums with the quartet include Tritonis (1980) and Paper Moon (1981). Other albums were So What's New? (1998) and The Crossing (2001). He also played on Park_Avenue_South (2003) and London Flat, London Sharp (2005).
Later Life and Passing
Randy Jones passed away in 2016. He was 72 years old. He died in the Bronx, New York, due to heart failure.
