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Still in his
twenties,
saxophonist and vocalist Ben Jones has already played
and recorded with some of Australia’s
finest musicians including; Tom Baker, Bob &
Len Barnard, Geoff Bull, Col Nolan,
Janet Seidel, Monica & The Moochers, Don
Burrows and James Morrison. He has played at
most major Jazz festivals and venues around the country,
being a featured artist at the Manly, Thredbo,
Wangaratta, Wagga, Noosa and Newcastle festivals, & is
now the patron of the Dubbo Jazz Festival.
In January 2002 his
“4tet”
performed for a record crowd of 90,000 people at
“Jazz
in the Domain”,
co-headlining with two other Australian groups and
Maria Schneider, award winning composer/conductor
from New York.
Ben is often part of James Morrison’s
six- piece swing band, which features Ed Wilson
and the young vocalist Emma Pask, and was an
original member of John Morrison’s
big-band “Swing
City”.
He was featured on Col Nolan’s
album “
Nolan’s
Groove”,
which was a finalist for
“Jazz
album of the year”
at the ARIA awards, and appears on Janet Seidel’s
“The
Art Of Lounge Vol.2”,
where he joins Janet in a vocal duet. He can also be
heard soloing with James Morrison on the Swing City
CD “Serious
Fun”.
August 2001 saw the release of Ben’s
debut solo album
“It
Might As Well Be Swing…”
on the La Brava label. It was
still in the Top 10 on Australia’s
Independent Jazz Charts in October, 2003 & has been met
with great critical acclaim. It features one of the last
recordings made by the legendary Tom Baker, who
passed away late 2001.
Jones was fortunate enough to have his
first tour to Europe with Baker in July 2001,
playing at the world renowned Ascona New Orleans Jazz
Festival in Switzerland. Ben has since returned to
Ascona three times, & has played with some of the world’s
finest swing players including Dan Barrett, Harry
Allen, Ed Metz Jr, Howard Alden, Freddy Lonzo, Berndt
Lhotsky, Christian Hopkins, Leroy Jones & Craig Kline.
In 2003 he was a member of the
“All-Star”
festival band in Breda, Holland, which also
featured trombone sensation from New York, John
Allred & English trumpeter Colin Dawson, &
recorded two CD’s
in Breda, featuring Antoine Trommelen, Harry Kanters,
Bert Boeren & Simon Stribbling. Later that
year Jones had a highly successful series of
performances at the inaugural
“Osaka
Jazz City”
festival in Japan.
2004
marked Ben’s
return to Europe, this time touring extensively with
“The
Wooden Shoe’d
Kangaroos”;
an Australian/Dutch collaboration in tribute to the 100th
birthdays of Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller & Count Basie.
This band released the
“Basie,
Bean & Fats Project”
on CD in Europe & now it is available on La Brava Music
in Australia as his 2nd solo album.
Ben’s
saxophone sound is reminiscent of the big-toned 1930’s
& 40’s
tenor players, being equally at home playing ballads,
up-tempo swing, driving blues, or
“hot”
New Orleans styles. Unlike many other players his age,
Jones has never been one to branch too far into the
Be-Bop idiom, preferring to focus on his traditional
roots. His vocal style is also growing into a unique mix
of swing & “crooning”,
taking heed of the masters; Sinatra, Bennett & Torme.
Presently, Ben is leading his own group,
“The
Ben Jones 4tet”
which comprises some of Sydney’s
finest young musicians following the respected
tradition, while bringing a fresh and exciting approach
to swinging jazz.
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