Sam Jones (November 12, 1924 – December 15, 1981) was an American jazz composer, cellist and double bassist, with an impeccable technique, who could also swing and groove with the best of them. Most associated with his tenures with Cannonball Adderley, and then Oscar Peterson, he also went on to front his own bands and left a reputable recorded legacy as a leader.
Samuel Jones was born in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, to a musical family. His father played piano and drums and his aunt played organ in church. Sam studied drums and guitar during his school years. He played and recorded on double bass in Cincinnati with Tiny Bradshaw (1953-5), then moved to New York, where he soon became sought after by the leaders of several bop groups, including Kenny Dorham (1956), Cannonball Adderley (1957), Dizzy Gillespie (1958-9), and Thelonius Monk (1959). Others of note were Bill Evans, Les Jazz Modes, Illinois Jacquet, and Freddie Hubbard.
Here's "There Is No Greater Love" from above LP.
By 1960 his reputation had grown considerably, and he began recording under his own name on both double bass and cello. He was a member of Adderly’s group from 1959 to 1965, and contributed many original compositions, including Del Sasser and Unit7, to its repertory. Jones recorded extensively for Riverside Records as both leader and as sideman.
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| Oscar Peterson Trio |
When Ray Brown left Oscar Peterson in 1966 Jones joined the pianist’s trio, remaining until 1970. Thereafter he worked with Bobby Timmons, Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton (1972 -7), Clifford Jordan, Duke Jordan, Lucky Thompson, Johnny Hodges and Jimmy Heath. In the 1970s, Jones recorded several albums as a bandleader for the Xanadu and Steeple Chase labels. His recording with a twelve piece big band in 1979 “Something New,” has been reissued and being appreciated again. This is also the case with fine session for Muse in 1977 "Something in Common."
As a jazz cellist Jones must be ranked with Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown, though his approach to improvisation is more blues-oriented. His soulful perambulations on double bass, even when restricted to basic chord changes, were intrinsically musical, and he sometimes constructed an entire solo from walking-bass patterns.
During the summer of 1981, Sam Jones grew seriously ill, suffering from lung cancer. The illness was so advanced that he could no longer play. He died from the disease in New York City on 15 December 1981 at the age of 57.
(Sparce information edited from New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, All about Jazz & Wikipedia)