A Uk jazz saxophonist/composer who has been based in London for over 20 years. He works in the UK and internationally with a wide range of his own projects and collaborations
He formed his first group "Ed Jones Quartet" in 1987 featuring Geoff Williams:piano,Rob Statham:Bass,and Winston Clifford:Drums.They were the first band to play at the old Jazz Cafe on Newington Green.A regular performer on the emerging Acid Jazz scene at clubs such as The Wag and Dingwalls, he was signed by Giles Peterson and recorded his first album â€The Homecoming" (Acid Jazz, 1989).
In 1991 he formed a new quartet with Jonathon Gee:piano,Wayne Batchelor:Double Bass and Braian Abrahams:Drums.They recorded "Pipers Tales" in 1991 which saw the light of day (ASC, 1995). Between 1995-2004 his main ongoing 'solo' project was a quintet (featuring Byron Wallen:Trpt,Jonathan Gee:Piano,Geoff Gascoyne:Double Bass,Winston Clifford:Drums) with which he has recorded ''Out Here" (ASC, 1997).In 1997 Finnish Trumpeter Mika Myllari joined the band for the first of many collaborations and recorded "Seven Moments" (ASC 2002).
His 5th album "A view from the..." featuring the ed/ge project was released in spring 2004.This was a Hip/Hop/Beats/ Big Band collaboration with programmer/producer Geoff Wilkinson of US3.
In 2004 he was commissioned by Southern Arts to write a composition for woodwinds/piano/beats/electronics inspired by the work of the English artist Francis Bacon entitled "Triptych (3 accidents)" This was released as part of the Digital Directions album and will be remixed and re-released as part of his next solo recording 2008.
In 2005 he formed Killer Shrimp (co-led) with Trumpeter Damon Brown. The group recorded the highly acclaimed Sincerely Whatever (33 records)in 2006 mixing dance genres and electronica with acoustic jazz. The cd was top of many critics best of list that year and was nominated for Jazz cd of the year 2007 parliamentary jazz awards. The group were awarded Best Jazz Ensemble 2007 at the same awards.
He has made musical connections in many countries particularly in Japan where he tours regularly and runs two projects; EJQ (a jazz quartet), and Quasimodo, an electric project featuring the legendary Paul Jackson (Headhunters) on bass.
In 2005 he was commissioned by the British Council to compose and perform 1000 Plateaus based on the writings of Gilles Deleuze as part of the Expo in Japan.In the same year he toured Japan performing a tribute to Miles Davis (which featured dj's and vj's from japan with Quasimodo)
In Scandinavia he has been collaborating for many years with Finnish trumpeter/composer Mika Myllari on a number of projects including the 10-piece ensemble Burn (for which the BBC/Jazz on 3/Bath Festival commissioned) as well as the evolving orchestral/beats project Dark Ages.His latest project is also a collaboration between himself and Mika Myllari. Sixth Sense features Mika Myllari:Trpt,Samuli Mikkonen:Piano,Mark Hodgson:Double Bass,Markku Ounaskari :Drums,Ville Hyvönen:Sound/Visual Design,exploring new compositions and visual/soundscape elements.
He has also recorded and toured with the Danish/Swedish/Uk Trio Stekpanna,and is currently featured in a new project of Finnish Vocalist Reija Lang.
His experience as a sideman reflects his diverse interests. Over the past decade he has performed with U.S jazz musicians George Benson, Dianne Reeves, Charles Earland, Horace Silver, Clifford Jarvis and Dr Lonnie Smith. In the UK he has appeared with Dick Heckstall-Smith, John Stevens, District Six, Evan Parker, Jason Rebello, Orphey Robinson,Claire Martin, Don Weller, Byron Wallen, Tim Richard's Great Spirit, Damon Brown, Monk Liberation Front ,Jonathon Gee
As a session musician he has worked with amongst others Chaka Khan, D'Angelo, Herbie Hancock (Headhunters),Omar, Aswad, Tina Turner,Caleen Anderson, Alison Moyet, Philip Bailey, Bootsy Collins, Kid Creole,Mori Kante, Maysa, Terry Callier, and long standing connections to jazz crossover projects such as US3 (1992-) and Incognito (1995-) both with whom he has been a regular band member.
Ed has also composed for Film/TV writing the score for the award winning series "Writers on the border" Infas tv/Channel 4 (Best documentary film monteal Film festival 1991).
â€A formidable saxophonist. Ed Jones may have hit his highest profile through his work with bands US3 and Incognito, but he’s an improviser to his fingertips, a player of forceful imagination, and one of the Uk’s most distinctive saxophonists."
John Fordham The Guardian.
â€The Vigorous, sometimes downright volcanic tenor sound of Ed Jones has long been one of the great live delights of British Jazz. His barnstorming ‘terrier with a rat’ approach raises the musics temperature whenever he solos“.
Chris Parker, Jazzwise.
“One of the most fluent and forceful saxophonists in Europeâ€
Jack Massarik Evening Standard
â€One of Europes most exciting and inovative bandleaders"-BBC Music Magazine
