J.J. Special

Personnel: Jonah Jones (tp, vcl), Vic Dickenson, Urbie Green (tb), Alix Combelle, George Clarke (ts), Sidney Bechet (ss), Edmond Hall (cl), André Persiany, Kenny Kersey (p), Jean Bonal (g), Alix Bret, Milt Hinton, Pops Foster (b), Marcel Blanche, Osie Johnson (d) Robert Elliot 'Jonah' Jones was an A-class trumpet player, a dynamic and surefooted soloist who expressed himself through Mainstream Jazz. Somewhat inspired by Louis Armstrong and Charlie Shavers, Jonah soon added to those influences his clarity of tone and logical phrasing. These 1954 Paris-New York sessions were recorded not long before he took his first steps on the road to commercial success fronting his own quartet. The two French sessions are outstanding. The swinging Mr. Jones shares the solo spot with the powerful sound of Alix Combelles tenor sax, and the poignant, eloquent and unmistakable soprano sax of a jazz giant: Sidney Bechet. On the New York sextet sides, along Jonahs always-smiling trumpet and singing, shines the horn work of the two bones Vick Dickenson and Urbie Green, along with clarinetist Ed Hall. The overall feeling is that of the Swing Era.