A Zoom Hang with Neal Wilkinson featuring Harold Jones

Born and raised in closeby Richmond, Indiana, Harold Jones is one of the legends of the straight ahead style of big band drumming. He worked and toured with the Count Basie Orchestra for five years, cutting no less than 15 albums in that timespan, and went on to work for ten years with Sarah Vaughn, touring the world, and playing the White House five times "because she was Nancy Reagan's favorite singer," according to press releases. Harold Jones was also the drummer on Natalie Cole's famous album, Unforgettable, and toured with the show. 

In 2001 he was on the staff for the Henry Mancini Institute at the University of California in Los Angeles, and performed on Quincy Jones' new CD, "Count Basie and Beyond," and Robbie Williams' "Swing When You're Winning."  Currently Harold Jones leads drumming workshops at colleges and universities throughout the country.

 "I teach how to interpret music on drums," he says. He also fronts his own 17-piece big band, The Bossmen, playing for community events and corporate occasions. "I want to bring the Basie swing style back to the music world." 

Harold Jones is one of the legends of the straight ahead style of big band drumming. You've heard his drumming - he's played, toured and recorded with artists like: Count Basie, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, Sarah Vaughan, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sonny Cohn, Benny Carter, Natalie Cole, Hoagy Carmichael, Benny Carter, B.B. King, Scott Hamilton, Marian McPartland, Paul Winter, Luther Vandross, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Marlena Shaw, Bing Cosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Crosby, Nancy Wilson, Billy Eckstine, Carmen McRae, The Mills Brothers, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., The Harry James Orchestra, Benny Carter, Jimmy Smith, Johnny Griffin, Ira Sullivan, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, James Moody, Benny Goodman, Joe Williams, Roger Williams, John Lee Hooker, Roosevelt Sykes, Ray Charles, Kay Starr, and many others.  He has also recorded with Sammy Nestico, and is featured on the famous Count Basie album, "Warm Breeze." In 2001 Harold Jones was on the staff for the Henry Mancini Institute at the University of California in Los Angeles, and performed on Quin cy Jones' new CD, "Basie and Beyond" and Robbie Williams' "Swing When You're Winning."  

Currently, Harold can be seen on tour with Tony Bennett, and leading drumming workshops at colleges and unversities throughout the country.

Come and hang with a true master of our art!