Sam Jones is a US jazz bassist, cellist and composer from Jacksonville, Florida. Born in 1924 and active until his death in 1981, he works mainly within hard bop and jazz. After moving to New York City in 1955, he becomes part of the city’s jazz scene and records and performs with a wide range of leading players.

Career

Jones plays double bass and cello, and his work as a bassist is central to his reputation. He performs with Bobby Timmons, Tiny Bradshaw, Les Jazz Modes, Kenny Dorham, Illinois Jacquet, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. He also works with Cannonball Adderley, which is the association he is best known for, and with Oscar Peterson between 1966 and 1970. He records with Bill Evans in the 1950s and also works with Cedar Walton.

His memberships include the Barry Harris Trio, James Moody's Band, Johnny Griffin Sextet, Tubby Hayes and The All Stars, Chuck Mangione Quintet, Clark Terry Quintet, Cannonball Adderley Sextet, The Pentagon, The Thelonious Monk Orchestra and Tony Scott Quintet.

Writing and compositions

Jones writes several pieces that become standards in jazz repertoire. These include “Del Sasser” and “Unit 7”, both written while he is working with Adderley. Other compositions associated with him include “Blue Funk”, “Seven Minds”, “O.P.” and “Cannon's Theme”.

Recording as leader

As a leader, Jones records The Soul Society, The Chant, Down Home, Seven Minds, Cello Again, Changes and Things, Something In Common, Visitation, The Bassists and Something New - 12 Piece Band. His leader dates appear on labels including Riverside, East Wind, Xanadu, Muse, SteepleChase, Discovery and Interplay.

Selected sideman work

Jones appears on many recordings across the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Among the albums listed are Cannonball Adderley’s Somethin' Else, The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco, The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York and Phenix; Nat Adderley’s Work Song; Kenny Dorham’s 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia; Bill Evans’s Everybody Digs Bill Evans; Bud Powell’s Time Waits; Thelonious Monk’s At Town Hall and 5 by Monk by 5; and Oscar Peterson’s Blues Etude, Soul Espanol, The Way I Really Play, Mellow Mood, Travelin' On, Hello Herbie and Tristeza on Piano.

He also records with Chet Baker, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, James Clay, Arnett Cobb, Al Cohn, Walter Davis Jr., Lou Donaldson, Kenny Drew, Ted Dunbar, Red Garland, Terry Gibbs, Paul Gonsalves, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, John Lee Hooker, Wes Montgomery, Horace Parlan, Jimmy Raney, Sonny Red, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Teri Thornton, Billy Mitchell, Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Yusef Lateef, Abbey Lincoln, Johnny Lytle, Jack McDuff, Clifford Jordan, Wynton Kelly, Harold Land, Grant Green, Julian Priester and Ben Webster.