Claude Jones played some thick block chords, but in a more sedate fashion than Willie did. Jones, who made several recording sessions in the 1950s with Johnny Pate and Eddie Johnson. Ousley said that the people in the clubs liked Jones' playing so much because he was such a great entertainer: "He was playing so physically that he got everybody's attention." Blevins refers to Willie's brother playing piano as well this may have been Claude R.
MACOMBO LONGE FULL
Those old uprights weighed half a ton, but he could make an upright piano jump on the bandstand" (interview with Robert Campbell, August 1998).Īccording to tenor player Harold Ousley, Jones got the piano moving with his knees: "He was full of energy, wearing the piano out" (interview with Armin Büttner, October 1999). And Jacquet never held down a gig there, though we may fairly assume that while in town he participated in the Macomba's legendary jam sessions.īobby Blevins, who played piano and organ with the Dozier Boys, among others, says: "Willie Jones could do that locked-hands stuff faster than George Shearing.
MACOMBO LONGE SERIES
In his series of articles that reminisced about the Chicago nightlife of the 1940s and 1950s, Ted Watson wrote, "Willie Jones, the elbow-bamming pianist, who was a sight to watch and listen to, had his selected crew doing chores at the Macombo Lounge opposite Tom Archia and Illinois Jacquet" ("When Trumpet Was in Flower," Chicago Defender, August 8, 1974). According to Red Holloway, Chicago musicians called him "the piano wrecker." He has never gotten any attention outside of Chicago. He was admired by Sun Ra and Andrew Hill, sought after by some musicians, imitated by a few, shunned as too weird by others.
Willie Jones is one of the more intriguing pianists on the Chicago scene of the late 1940s and 1950s. We are bringing our coverage of Willie Jones' session with Buster Bennett up to date, and adding some information about his only single as a leader, Vee-Jay 121. Melvin Scott, tenor sax Phil Thomas, drums Betty Dupree, bass Billy Howell, trumpet Willie Jones, piano.
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